The tensions between the German-speaking population of South Tyrol and the Italian minority in the area were growing up since the end of World War II.

[1] The situation eventually ended up in violence, and on 12 June 1961, the BAS, established in 1957, blew up 37 electricity pylons supplying power to the industrial zone of Bolzano, later known as the "Night of Fire" (Feuernacht).

[4] In the morning of 9 September 1966, Volgger and six comrades were at work in the barrack's office when, at approximately 11:30 am, a 25-kg explosive device attached to a daisy-chain of hand grenades[5] went off inside the north-western wing of the building.

[7] The roof and the external wall of the building in the area of the explosion collapsed, while the blast ripped through the division between the office and the kitchen, killing Volgger and one of his men, Finanziero Martino Cossu, instantly, and wounding another five.

[11] The three servicemen killed in the attack were awarded the Medal of Remembrance to the victims of terrorism in 2010 and the Medaglia d'Oro al Merito Civile in 2013.