European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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Others, our metal workers in the companies said:
Others, our metal workers in the companies said:
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“But that is what we witness daily, they only understand the language of violence.
“But that is what we witness daily, they only understand the language of violence.
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Our arguments bounce off like the raindrops on a raincoat.
Our arguments bounce off like the raindrops on a raincoat.
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We can only succeed the Nazis with violence.”
We can only succeed the Nazis with violence.”
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And in the socialistic youth we did both.
And in the socialistic youth we did both.
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We acquired the theoretical qualifications to be able to debate with the Nazis
We acquired the theoretical qualifications to be able to debate with the Nazis
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and at the same time we defended ourselves. We had no choice.
and at the same time we defended ourselves. We had no choice.
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Until 1936 we sang:
Until 1936 we sang:
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“We never want to carry weapons again! Never, ever do we want war again. Let the ones at the top fight each other on their own, we just won’t take part any more.”
“We never want to carry weapons again! Never, ever do we want war again. Let the ones at the top fight each other on their own, we just won’t take part any more.”
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Then the old comrades came and said that Hitler was standing in front of the door
Then the old comrades came and said that Hitler was standing in front of the door
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with armed arguments, and you do not intend to defend yourself.
with armed arguments, and you do not intend to defend yourself.
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There was a giant discussion in the youth association and we decided to do military training.
There was a giant discussion in the youth association and we decided to do military training.
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We learned to shoot and we learned a new martial art. The Nazis did not even know the name of it.
We learned to shoot and we learned a new martial art. The Nazis did not even know the name of it.
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At that time it was the latest achievement: Jiu-Jitsu, training blows with the edge of your hand.
At that time it was the latest achievement: Jiu-Jitsu, training blows with the edge of your hand.
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With that we were able to prevail against the majority of the Nazis.
With that we were able to prevail against the majority of the Nazis.
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If one of our youth centres was closed in by Nazi rowdies,
If one of our youth centres was closed in by Nazi rowdies,
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how were we supposed to liberate the group in the youth centre?
how were we supposed to liberate the group in the youth centre?
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With defensive methods? That would not do.
With defensive methods? That would not do.
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We had to attack and once their blows were overcome
We had to attack and once their blows were overcome
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then the others would lose ground
then the others would lose ground