Aldo Moro wrote on the occasion of the 15th anniversary:The Ossola Republic had an unquestionable political value in that it revealed the spontaneous charge of the civil values of the Resistance Movement, which did not exhaust its commitment to the struggle for the liberation of the homeland from the foreigners, but expressed the aspiration for a new order of Society, according to the natural popular vocations for democracy, which the fascist dictatorship had failed to destroy.The remarkable, concrete political and administrative experience operated from the outset with an extraordinary breadth of perspective, projecting itself toward a new type of national community and therefore of state.

Like an authentic government, the Provisional Council proved itself capable of organizing, in the albeit brief time granted to it by the wartime period, the essential supplies for the population, assistance, military defense, police, order of employment, finances, schooling, welfare, and justice.

(...) In this sense, in my opinion, this splendid page of our history should be judged: that is, as a testimony and as a symbol of the moral charge that animated the Italian Resistance in its most shining and genuine expressionsThe uniqueness of the Ossola experience is thus to be found in its ability to respond not only to military needs, but above all in its willingness to believe in an alternative political order to the Nazi-Fascist one, effectively foreshadowing the establishment of a democratic regime in Italy.

An act of audacity, almost of defiance to the future: an affirmation of a destiny now inescapableNumerous partisan formations were active in the mountainous areas west of Lake Maggiore.

Among the groups active in Val d'Ossola were Dionigi Superti's Valdossola, Armando Calzavara's Cesare Battisti (Arca), Nino Chiovini's Giovane Italia (Peppo) and Guido il Monco, and Mario Flaim's 10th Garibaldi Brigade.

Most of the population abandoned the Ossola Valley to take refuge in Switzerland, leaving the territory almost deserted, effectively preventing the strong reprisals that were threatened by the fascists and the head of the province in particular.

[11] The boundaries of the Republic started from Lake Maggiore including, at its limits, Cannero, Oggebbio, Trarego, Ghiffa, Premeno, Aurano, Intragna, Caprezzo, Cambiasca, Miazzina, Cossogno, San Bernardino Verbano, Mergozzo and Ornavasso (Cannobio was excluded).

Comrade Filopanti, commissioner for Justice, presenting her as a "ministerial candidate" emphasized the value of the new fact of an Italian woman, to a position of governmental responsibility.

It turned out to be composed of:[14] The Council, during its tenure, secured the help of various collaborators and advisers, some of whom would become prominent men of the early republic, also remembered in history for participating in the drafting of the Italian Constitution.

While the activity of the Council was mainly aimed at coping with the difficulties of the moment, every act and measure was constantly inspired by a concern to enforce the principles of democracy, civil justice and social progress.

While in fact maintaining a degree of decision-making and administrative autonomy, it always remained dependent on the CLNAI, a source of authority and prestige, as evidenced by its extensive correspondence in letters.

[10] Since this was in fact liberated national territory, the competence over the appointment of civil administration councils did not belong to the military commanders but to the CLNAI, which, however, ratified what the major had already ordered.

was set forth in a missive directed to the CLNAI in Lugano, in which it was pointed out that there was a need to handle international issues related to daily life, the Ossola Valley being a border area.

was stimulated; close links were maintained with trade unions, parties and mass organizations; the local press was promoted; rallies and public demonstrations were held.

Let us all together ensure that Canton Ticino is also worthy of its noblest and highest traditions in this circumstance.Relations with the Swiss Confederation gave rise to important manifestations of solidarity, which contributed to the struggle for Liberation.

The Swiss Red Cross Delegate for Relief to Italy accompanied the first train of provisions (potatoes, flour, meat, milk) and medicines to Domodossola on September 22, 1944,[39] which would be followed by many others.

[14] The Council, assuming that it was up to it to administer the reserves of material and provisions, also sought to distribute equally among the population and the different formations what was produced or came in aid from Switzerland.

[14] A volunteer National Guard Corps was therefore established, dependent on the Military Command, with the task of assisting internal law and order and garrisoning the borders of Ponte Ribellasca, Paglino and the Iselle railroad customs house.

[15] This corps, although made up exclusively of volunteers with a distinctly military and patriotic character, assumed the tasks already belonging to the Carabinieri, Forestry Militia and Guardia di Finanza.

[...] The generous people of the Ossola, who were the first to give the sign of redemption in Northern Italy, were exemplary in this, too: in moderation with respect to their debauched adversaries.The provisional nature of the G.P.G., coupled with the uncertainty over what legislation to apply and the absence of directives from the government in Rome, imposed caution in adopting measures pertaining to justice.

Nevertheless, the principles that inspired the Council were heavily marked by a strongly reforming idea of fairness, legality and freedom of the individual, values that were later fully taken up by the Italian Constitution.

"[56] For political investigations, instead, an Extraordinary Judge was established, lawyer Ezio Vigorelli, future Minister of Labor and Social Policies and member of the Constituent Assembly.

[57] Given the large number of political prisoners locked up at the city jail (which had a maximum capacity of 40 people), a concentration camp was set up at Druogno in the Vigezzo Valley.

[58] A Commission for the Purge was also established, appointed by the area C.L.N., consisting of four party representatives and two citizens known for honesty and antifascist spirit, with the task of proposing measures that would then be ratified by the Council.

Alessandro Levi, a famous jurist and anti-fascist, wrote about this: This very rare case of a country war that does not degenerate into an unfortunate sequence of violence on both sides, should be pointed out, in my opinion, as the example of the most difficult victory, that is, over one's own most instinctive feelings and resentments.

Had such an example been, and still be, for everywhere known and followed, easier would have been the reform of civil custom, which every man, thoughtful of the fate of this poor country of ours, must help to bring about as necessary and urgent.According to Bocca, the flag of the republic was to be a red, green and blue tricolor, in tribute to all the partisan military formations that had participated in the liberation and defense of the Ossola Free Territory.