European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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about the cease-fire with the Americans so the war-thing was expected to be over,
about the cease-fire with the Americans so the war-thing was expected to be over,
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but it was starting right in that moment instead, especially for us.
but it was starting right in that moment instead, especially for us.
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Introduction and youth
Introduction and youth
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My name is Francesco Bertacchini,
My name is Francesco Bertacchini,
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I was born in Reggio Emilia on June 24th, 1926.
I was born in Reggio Emilia on June 24th, 1926.
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That was a very bad time,
That was a very bad time,
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we couldn't go anywhere because we were being controlled everywhere we went,
we couldn't go anywhere because we were being controlled everywhere we went,
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it was very nasty. We were friends with this guy called Benito,
it was very nasty. We were friends with this guy called Benito,
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the son of Benito Foscato, the worst fascist of Zanichelli Street,
the son of Benito Foscato, the worst fascist of Zanichelli Street,
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where we have grown up as kids.
where we have grown up as kids.
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So we always had to be very careful about what we were saying
So we always had to be very careful about what we were saying
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because he would go and tell his father who would call us to the headquarters.
because he would go and tell his father who would call us to the headquarters.
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It was a dog's life, you had to take care whom you were dealing with.
It was a dog's life, you had to take care whom you were dealing with.
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One day our friend came home dressed as a fascist.
One day our friend came home dressed as a fascist.
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At first he seemed on our side.
At first he seemed on our side.
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We could not express our ideas because we knew
We could not express our ideas because we knew
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that he would always agree with us but in the end
that he would always agree with us but in the end
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he always would go to tell his father what we'd said and done.
he always would go to tell his father what we'd said and done.
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In fact, in the end it turned out that he'd enrolled as a volunteer for the Black Brigade:
In fact, in the end it turned out that he'd enrolled as a volunteer for the Black Brigade:
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to us it was a shock because we could have been put to jail.
to us it was a shock because we could have been put to jail.