Besides the human suffering of the victims of the 1960s, the “South Tyrolean Conflict” had also direct effects: Already as of the late-1950s, and especially after the “Night of Flames,” Italy began beefing up its security forces in South Tyrol. This led to a deployment of Army soldiers, the Carabinieri, and the Guardia di Finanza (customs soldiers) as well as of police forces numbering up to 40,000. Until 1970, South Tyrol resembled a military encampment.

Austria, too, strengthened its border forces. This was attributable in particular to heavy political pressure exerted by Italy on Austria. The border forces consisted of the “Concentrated Department” of the Austrian Federal Constabulary and, in 1967 – after the “event” at the Porze Gap – a deployment of the Austrian Federal Army at the border.

The positive result – both for South Tyrol and, ultimately, also for Italy – was the conclusion of the “South Tyrolean Pact” in 1969, which led in 1972 to the “Second Autonomy Statute.”