Despite the risks posed by strikes under occupation, workers continued to use this method to protest both the socio-economic conditions and fascist rule. A notable example is the general strike in Milan and Turin from 1–8 March 1944, organised largely by the PCI and involving at least 350,000 participants. Though the mobilisation varied significantly by region and sector, Communist underground publications hailed it as a great success, and as the largest strike action in occupied Europe. The strike was rooted in the worsening living conditions, driven by the exploitation of northern Italian industry in favour of the German war economy, and echoed in demands for better food rations and higher wages.

The March strikes, in their clear defiance of German occupation, became a symbol of rising disobedience and of workers in major factories becoming increasingly politicised. They also showcased the PCI’s central role: beyond the Garibaldi Brigades, the party could mobilise the working class, even if not to the extent it had hoped. The German response was brutal: at least 1,200 strikers were arrested and deported to forced‑labour camps or Concentration camps. Many who evaded this repression joined the partisans, strengthening the links between civilian and military resistance and between industrial cities and the mountain regions.

Another key form of unarmed resistance was daily support from segments of the population, particularly in providing equipment, food, and crucial intelligence. Individuals freed from military service and able to move freely, such as clergy and teachers, collected and relayed information about Wehrmacht troop movements, arms depot locations, and infrastructure weaknesses. These reports reached the CLN and were vital for planning partisan attacks and sabotage.

Refusing conscription under the RSI was one of the most visible forms of resistance. The majority of young men evaded the draft, often at great personal risk. The RSI responded with arrests and pressure on families. Nevertheless, the number of those who refused to serve or deserted remained high, and many joined the Resistenza in the mountains.