European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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I attended a course for saboteurs. I think we were five.
I attended a course for saboteurs. I think we were five.
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The Allies were air-dropping explosives the whole time. Nobody knew how to use them.
The Allies were air-dropping explosives the whole time. Nobody knew how to use them.
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One day they also parachuted a saboteur to teach us.
One day they also parachuted a saboteur to teach us.
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Our duty was to blow up bridges, railway tracks and the like.
Our duty was to blow up bridges, railway tracks and the like.
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He taught us how to handle explosives,
He taught us how to handle explosives,
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how to make mines, how to blow up railway tracks, how to blow up a road, or a military column.
how to make mines, how to blow up railway tracks, how to blow up a road, or a military column.
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After we practiced a bit I think we were much better than our instructor.
After we practiced a bit I think we were much better than our instructor.
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They were trained recklessly;
They were trained recklessly;
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they were taught the most important things and then dropped in the partisan areas.
they were taught the most important things and then dropped in the partisan areas.
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We started from scratch but were also trying to improve our military expertise.
We started from scratch but were also trying to improve our military expertise.
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As an example, it took us one and a half hours to blow up a bridge on road 63,
As an example, it took us one and a half hours to blow up a bridge on road 63,
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as it was made of stones.
as it was made of stones.
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We changed our method and were able to do it in fifteen minutes.
We changed our method and were able to do it in fifteen minutes.
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In July, when the great mop-up took place,
In July, when the great mop-up took place,
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there were just two or three of us sappers.
there were just two or three of us sappers.
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We were scattered around because the battle started at four in the morning,
We were scattered around because the battle started at four in the morning,
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and by the evening the whole partisan area had been occupied by the Germans.
and by the evening the whole partisan area had been occupied by the Germans.
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We were in Carpineti and we reached Costabona.
We were in Carpineti and we reached Costabona.
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The whole village was on fire.
The whole village was on fire.
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The Germans had set the village on fire as well as the crop and the wheat on the fields.
The Germans had set the village on fire as well as the crop and the wheat on the fields.