The film illustrates the formation of the first partisan groups after 8 september 1943, during the winter 1943-44 in some areas of Piedmont, particularly Cuneo, Valpellice, Valle di Susa and Canavese. The documentary is based on the interviews with the partisans about the first groups, their weapons, the formation of the bands, their position, the incentives connected with the problem of survival. Together with these interviews, grouped according to subject into chapters, there is some rare film taken, at the time, by the partisans themselves.