European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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On the mountains I also got to know "Frigio",
On the mountains I also got to know "Frigio",
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the one that wrote books about the Resistance. He was a sergeant, too.
the one that wrote books about the Resistance. He was a sergeant, too.
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He knew some people and we established some contacts this way.
He knew some people and we established some contacts this way.
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By then we used to ride bicycles, he was displaced to Barco di Bibbiano
By then we used to ride bicycles, he was displaced to Barco di Bibbiano
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and so he used to give us a ride with the bike but it was risky,
and so he used to give us a ride with the bike but it was risky,
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you could see he was a youngster in his twenties
you could see he was a youngster in his twenties
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and we didn't have documents, nothing at all, so it was risky for us to be caught by the fascists.
and we didn't have documents, nothing at all, so it was risky for us to be caught by the fascists.
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But everything went well; thanks to him we got involved and went up to Cà Roma,
But everything went well; thanks to him we got involved and went up to Cà Roma,
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which was a small house near Canossa, an isolated peasant's house.
which was a small house near Canossa, an isolated peasant's house.
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That was where the partisans were staying,
That was where the partisans were staying,
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they were waiting to get in touch with the commanders up there.
they were waiting to get in touch with the commanders up there.
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We were quite a few, though: when we started there were 45 of us
We were quite a few, though: when we started there were 45 of us
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and to the time we arrived at the Villa Minozzo
and to the time we arrived at the Villa Minozzo
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and at some other village in the province of Modena, I can't remember the name now,
and at some other village in the province of Modena, I can't remember the name now,
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there were seven more partisans.
there were seven more partisans.
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All together, we had only nine rifles and one hunting rifle ... for 45 persons ... crazy.
All together, we had only nine rifles and one hunting rifle ... for 45 persons ... crazy.
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We had to be very careful because we didn't know the people,
We had to be very careful because we didn't know the people,
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you couldn't know if one was with you or against you,
you couldn't know if one was with you or against you,
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or it could be a weak guy, weakened by fear,
or it could be a weak guy, weakened by fear,
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one who might run away and tell this and that if he got arrested ...
one who might run away and tell this and that if he got arrested ...