European Resistance Archive/European Resistance Archive (ERA)
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They were told us that we would be going to Germany.
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The train had to stop in Codoglio di Piacenza,
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in order to let through another train coming in the opposite direction.
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Trains at the time were not electric, they were powered with coal.
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We stopped for quite a long time.
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Since the wagons were full of people, it was hot inside. There wasn’t enough ventilation.
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Some passed out, so the Germans opened the sliding doors slightly to let some air in.
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At that point there were four Germans, while we were four thousand.
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They walked back and forth outside, with big guns slung over their shoulders.
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Before we left we had grabbed a small bag of things. I had the mess tin we used to eat in.
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I asked the German if I could go to the fountain in the station. We had not drunk any water for two days.
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I probably wasn’t thinking about escaping. I was just really thirsty and desperate.
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The German said “Ja, ja, ja”. I got off the train and headed towards the fountain.
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The German joined another soldier further away and started eating a peace of watermelon with him.
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I threw away the tin and started to run as fast as I could. I was skinny then and 23 years old.
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The soldier took out his gun and started shooting at me.
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But, when I started running, a friend of mine tried to come along.
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He was hit in the thigh and fell over the tracks.
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The number on the arm
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Often the children ask me why I don’t have the number removed.
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