The US worked with Lucky Luciano and the mafia during World War 2. Luciano provided intelligence help to disrupt German spies and sabotage in exchange for reducing his prison sentence. The US then worked with Sicilian mafia boss Calogero Vizzini during the invasion of Sicily in 1943. Vizzini aided the Allied troops' movement and was later appointed mayor of his hometown by the US as a reward for his assistance. The cooperation between the US and mafia provided benefits for both sides during the war, despite their opposing interests.

1. The US Military and The Mafia During Wor ld War Two

2. Objective The objective of this presentation is to further enlighten the American public in the matters concerning the Sicilian Mafia and the United States Military during World War Two.

3. By the 1920s Lucky Luciano had become one of the biggest crime bosses in New York City. He was responsible for modernizing the Mafia by organizing it and running it smoothly. Lucky Luciano

4. Luciano successfully implemented a system with 24 major family bosses This national crime syndicate controlled most of the country’s bootlegging, numbers, narcotics, prostitution, the waterfront, the unions, food marts, bakeries and garment trade They also were able to infiltrate and corrupt legitimate business’, politics and law enforcement. Organizing Organized Grime

5. In 1935, a man by the name of Thomas E. Dewey was given the job of special prosecutor in New York City. His main target was Luciano and referred to him as, "the czar of organized crime in this city." Lucky Luciano was eventually found guilty on 62 counts and was sentenced to 30-50 years in jail. Behind Bars

6. Attack on US Waters Shortly after the Pearl Harbor attack, German U-boats (submarines) began sinking US merchant ships right off the US coast line. The French liner, Normandie, that was being turned into a troop ship was then mysteriously sunk in the Hudson River. These incidences created fears of sabotage, and it was believed that the Germans were acquiring information from Nazi sympathizers in the US

7. Lucky Gets Lucky The US naval intelligence soon turned to Luciano for help in preventing these attacks. They agreed to shorten Luciano’s prison sentence, on the conditions that Luciano’s men would aid the US in acquiring information on German spies, and that Luciano would return to Italy once the Hostilities in Europe had ended.

8. Luciano’s men consisted of dockworkers, fishermen, and hoodlums and became the backbone of US Naval intellegence. Luciano gave the word to his men to cooperate with the US officials, and eight German spies were soon captured, all of which had landed by U-boat. Explosives, maps, and blueprints for sabotage were also seized. The New Recruits

9. The US soon began to plan an invasion of Italy. However, they needed intelligence, such as German troop movements, for the invasion of Sicily. They once again turned to Luciano for help. An Invasion Takes Shape

10. Scratchin’ Each Other's Backs Though the US was trying to win the war, the mob over in Italy had their own motives for aiding in the invasion of Sicily. The mob realized that peace in Italy needed to be restored in order for “business” to keep running smoothly, and the only way to do that was to get the Nazi’s out of Italy.

11. “ Boss of the Bosses” Undisputed Mafia Boss of Sicily Banned from Sicily after the rise of Mussolini, returning in 1937 to his town of Villalba Supported the Allies during the Invasion of Sicily Don Calogero Vizzini

12. Invasion of Sicily On July 9 th , 1943, General George Patton and the Allied troops landed on the shore of Sicily Amazingly, during their four day march to the city of Palermo, Italian troops offered no resistance to the Allied troops

13. Mafia Helping Out Once in Sicily, American troops made contact with Calogero Vizzini He traveled with the American troops, showing the Mafia’s support of the Allies Vizzini and fellow Mafia members protected the roads from snipers, arranged welcomes for the advancing troops, and provided guides through the confusing mountain terrain.

14. Calogero’s Reward After the U.S. invaded Sicily, The Civil Affairs Control Office of the U.S. Army appointed Don Calogero the mayor of his hometown, Villalba

15. The End