On 22 April 1945 Italian partisans, together with the Swiss secret service, foiled a plot to blow up the Simplon Tunnel. The German Wehrmacht had planned to destroy it.

In March 1945, SS General Karl Wolff negotiated with the Allies over a German surrender in Italy. The secret meeting took place in Ascona.

On the border with fascist Italy, things were quite uncomfortable during the Second World War. But despite this, Ticino welcomed refugees with open arms and provided help on numerous occasions.

The Partisan Republic of Ossola fought against fascism in 1944. Without help from Ticino, the fight would have been even more hopeless.