Shortly after the Great War, the province of Belluno, as well as the rest of Italy,  saw an increase in fascism activities and the spread of the feeling of dissatisfaction. After the fascist regime conquered Ethiopia, many “bellunesi” were dislocated to the newly added African Colony.

When the Second World War happened the territories of the province were not on the front line.

Anyway they still underwent heavy bombings. In fact, 818 aerial attacks were counted, which obligated the population to either shelter in place or take cover in some bunkers on the underground of the city of Belluno, estimated to be capable of hosting up to 5.000 people  (the biggest one is in the area of Lambioi, still accessible today). 

In 1943, Belluno hosted a high profile meeting between Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler, which took place in San Fermo, in the immediate periphery of Belluno. The designed location was a beautiful villa in the countryside of Belluno, which became really famous locally for this reason. To reach the place the two leaders and their convoys had to travel from Treviso to Feltre by train and then from Feltre to San Fermo by car. 

It is believed that one of the main reasons for this meeting was the testing of a new line of supplies connecting Germany to the rest of the Italian frontlines through Belluno’s territories.

After Italy signed the truce with the allies many Italians were imprisoned, and later deported, including people from the province of Belluno. Statistics show us that more than 9.000 people from Belluno and its territories were deported to nazists labor camps, most of whom were sent to the Bolzano camp.

The deported weren’t only military personnel but also civilians, persecuted political figures and partisans.