Mafia Allies: The True Story of America's Secret Alliance with the Mob in World War II

Description

The Mafia is one of the most feared and powerful criminal organizations the world has ever known. It was also, briefly during World War II, Americas ally--a fact that had a profound effect on the fortunes of the Fascists, and on those of the Mafia, whom Mussolini had effectively crushed. This book brings to light a little-known chapter in the history of World War II, and of organized crime. It tells how Cesare Mori, deputized by Mussolini to "cauterize the sore of crime in Italy," waged all-out war on the Mafia in the name of fascism; and how the Allied invasion of Sicily in July 1943 (Operation Husky) gave the Mafia an opening to regain its strength--and its hold on political power--in the vacuum created by the Fascists defeat. A provocative account of how the rise and ultimate defeat of fascism in Italy affected the worlds largest and most notorious criminal organization, Mafia Allies also illuminates a dark truth about the unexpected long-term consequences of wartime alliances of convenience.

Tim Newark is the editor of Military Illustrated, the leading British military history magazine. He is the author of numerous books, including The Barbarians," War in Britain," Where They Fell," Turning the Tide of War," and Camouflage." He was also the scriptwriter and historical consultant for six television documentary series about World War II for BBC Worldwide. Tim lives in London.

"New York Post, " May 20, 2007 "These stories have been out there for a long time, but here, English historian Tim Newark broadens their context to encompass their social and political origins, along with the criminal and military ramifications of these intensive efforts...the victory in "Mafia Allies" is the depth the author brings to the subject.""America in WWII, " June 2007"Through novels like "The Godfather" and movies and television, Americans have acquired an oddly parochial view of the mob, the view that it is in some way an American hybrid institution associated more with Jersey City, New Jersey, than Palermo, Sicily. Newark is a Briton and his European resources together with his narrative skills help correct that outlook and point out the mob's power and connections in Europe in the war years and highlight how the rise of Italian fascism drove some infamous Mafiosi from Europe to America in the years before World War II...Was this alliance with the Mafia useful to the Allies? From archival sources in London, New York, and Washington, D.C., Tim Newark is able to substantiate that 'it was what it was' and that there is always some truth to the adage ' The enemy of my enemy may be my friend.'"