Mafia family. Sicilian mafia

A lot has been written about the Italian mafia and gangsters who were part of the famous criminal organization Cosa Nostra. literary works and films were made that surrounded them with an aura of invincibility. It is characteristic that the exclamation of one of the heroes of the popular Russian film comedy about the adventures of Italians in Russia “The Mafia is immortal!” is perceived by many as an indisputable fact. Is this so and has justice managed, if not to defeat evil, then at least to inflict tangible blows on it?

Term taken from Sicilian slang

In the middle of the 19th century, the Italian language was enriched with a new word - “mafia”. He received this “gift” from the dialect spoken by the inhabitants of Sicily, as well as the smaller Mediterranean islands adjacent to it. There was a tradition there to call arrogant and self-confident hooligans this way, who were distinguished by their fearlessness, enterprise and pride.

Over time, this term has become so ingrained in most world languages ​​that it has attracted the attention of linguists. They established its relationship with a number of slang (jargon) expressions that were of Arabic origin, which denoted all sorts of criminal elements or, more simply, the same gangsters.

Italian mafia - a haven for criminals

A slightly different interpretation of the word “mafia” is given by the famous Italian writer Mario Puzo, whose subject of detailed study was the Italian mafia. The film "The Godfather", based on his novel of the same name, at one time successfully bypassed television screens around the world.

The author of the sensational work claims that in its true meaning this Sicilian term translates as “refuge.” It is likely that he is right, especially if we take into account the specifics of the criminal community he designated, which was a kind of family uniting criminal groups.

What is Omerta?

It was a strictly centralized organization, all of whose members unquestioningly obeyed a single leader (the godfather) and were obliged to be guided by a common code of conduct for all, called “omerta” and somewhat akin to the modern criminal concepts of the Russian criminal world.

Before continuing the conversation about what the Italian mafia was, we should dwell in some detail on the laws that underlay the lives of its members. This will greatly help to understand the motives of certain of their actions.

Laws established within the mafia

So, in addition to the above-mentioned principle of autocracy, omerta established lifelong membership in the organization of everyone who was once accepted into its ranks. The only valid reason for leaving the mafia could be death. For each mafioso (member of this organization), justice is the decision of the head of the organization, and not the state judicial authorities.

Betrayal was punishable by death not only of the one who dared to denounce, but also of all his relatives. And finally, an insult inflicted on one of the mafia members was considered an insult to the entire organization, and therefore entailed the inevitable death of the offender.

The last point created a certain illusion of security among the bandits and made it possible to consider the mafia truly a refuge, if not from criminal liability, then at least from the revenge of the victims of their tyranny. In reality, omerta was a means of control by the leaders of the organization over all its participants and intimidation of ordinary members.

Structure of the criminal community

In terms of its internal structure, Cosa Nostra was a strictly defined vertical of power, at the top of which was its head, called the Don. This position was elective, and the entire Italian mafia obeyed the Don unquestioningly. The film "The Godfather" perfectly illustrates the power that this man was endowed with.

His closest assistants were two - the junior boss, who served as a deputy, and in the event of the death of the owner, temporarily taking his place, and the consigliere - a personal adviser both on legal issues and in business organization.

Below on the hierarchical ladder were the commanders of combat gangster groups who bore the title of caporegime. Subordinate to them were the direct perpetrators of all criminal cases - soldiers. The list was completed by accomplices - these were persons who had not yet become full members of the mafia, for whom something like probationary period. All lower-ranking members of the mafia were obliged to unquestioningly obey their superiors. Violation of this fundamental principle was punishable by death.

In addition, it is known about the Italian mafia that its constituent communities, called families or clans, extended their influence to certain territories, for example Sicily, Naples, Calabria, etc. Attempts to rule in foreign areas were considered a violation of the same omerta and were punished in the most cruel way. It is important to note the following important detail: only purebred Italians could be members of such mafia clans-families, and in Sicily - only native Sicilians. They were engaged in almost all types of criminal activities: racketeering, drug trafficking, control of prostitution, etc.

Robin Hoods of the underworld

It is generally accepted that the Italian mafia was formed in the middle XIX century and the prerequisite for its appearance was the extreme weakness of the state structures of the Kingdom of Sicily, which was then under the rule of the Bourbon dynasty. Over the previous two centuries, the territory of the state repeatedly fell under foreign domination, as a result of which the native Sicilians were subjected to exploitation and repression.

Such a situation became fertile ground for the emergence of various kinds of bandit groups engaged in robbing rich foreigners. To be fair, it should be noted that at a certain stage, following the example of the legendary Robin Hood, they generously shared the loot with their poor fellow villagers, which quickly gained universal support and approval. If necessary, the bandits provided their fellow countrymen with cash loans and helped resolve all sorts of conflicts with the authorities.

Thus, a social base was created on which the Italian mafia, so well known today, subsequently developed. Its further development was facilitated by the influx of funds caused by the expansion of business related to the production and export of citrus crops.

Mafia exported overseas

At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, due to the difficult economic situation in Sicily, many of its residents (including bandits) were forced to emigrate abroad, primarily to the American continent. There, overseas, criminal structures formed back in their homeland, having received new life, and began to develop intensively.

The Italian mafia in the USA, maintaining its previously established traditions, soon became one of the elements of American society and continued to exist in parallel with the Sicilian, integral part which she was.

For example, its role in the life of American trade unions, control over which was one of the important components of the criminal business, is widely known. In the fifties, the well-established tandem “mafia - trade unions” was so strong that the government made a number of significant concessions, which were demanded of it by both representatives of workers and gangsters. At the same time, it is known that almost 30% of drug trafficking in the country was under the control of the latter.

The Italian mafia, which had so rapidly expanded its activities overseas before the war, in the sixties was forced to confront fierce competition from other criminal groups that appeared in the United States and consisted of African Americans, Chinese, Colombians, and Mexicans. This undermined her in many ways. financial base and weakened its former power.

Mussolini against the mafia

At home, the Italian mafia received the strongest rebuff to its actions in 1925, when the fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, who seized power in the country, set out to completely destroy criminal structures in order to strengthen control over its southern regions. For this purpose, he appointed his fellow party member Cesare Mori, who later earned the nickname “Iron Prefect,” as prefect of Palermo, the main city of the Sicilian region.

He was given such complete freedom of action that even compliance with elementary laws was not made an obligation. Taking advantage of such emergency powers and not constrained by any moral standards the newly appointed prefect fought against criminals using their own methods. It is known, for example, that, having besieged entire cities, he, forcing members of the mafia to surrender, used women and children as hostages and mercilessly shot in cases of disobedience.

Crime clans respond

Fascist propaganda hastened to announce that as a result of the measures they had taken, they had defeated the Italian mafia, which had previously been considered invulnerable to justice. However, such statements turned out to be a clear exaggeration. Despite the fact that it actually suffered significant damage and many mafiosi joined the number of emigrants, it was not possible to completely defeat it, and after some time this evil was revived in an even greater volume.

It is known that Mussolini’s attempt to eradicate the mafia caused a response on its part, and subsequently this criminal organization, collaborating with Anglo-American troops, played a very positive role, making a tangible contribution to the fight of the Italian people against fascism.

Cooperation between government and criminal structures

One of the characteristic features of organized criminal groups called the mafia is their fusion with the organs of state power. This began in Italy before the Second World War. In 1945, the result of separatist tendencies that had gripped the country in previous decades was the granting of significant autonomy to Sicily, and in the local elections that soon followed there was a sharp confrontation between representatives of the left and right parties.

Since it was known that the mafia was extremely hostile towards socialists and communists, their opponents - Christian Democrats - used its services to intimidate voters and force them to vote for the deputies they wanted. This vicious practice became a tradition, as a result of which right-wing parties remained in power throughout the post-war period.

All-out war on crime

A new stage in the fight against this deep-rooted evil began in the sixties and seventies. This was the period when the evolution of the democratic system that emerged in Italy also affected Sicily. A full-scale war was then declared on crime, with the Italian mafia becoming the main enemy of the justice system.

The film by director Domiano Domiani “Octopus”, released in March 1984, presents in all its details a picture of those years filled with arrests of mafia leaders, police raids and, as a result, murders of judges, prosecutors and other servants of the law.

Successes of Italian justice

In subsequent decades, the Italian authorities continued the struggle with the same tenacity. Its apogee is considered to be 2009, when several key figures were arrested at once, under whose control was almost the entire Italian mafia. The names of these people - the Pasquale brothers, as well as Carmine and Salvatore Russo - long years terrified their compatriots. As a result of the operational actions of the police, the second most important person of the crime syndicate, Dominico Racciuglia, ended up in the dock with them.

Other criminal structures in Italy

It should be noted that in addition to the main criminal organization, which bears the name “Cosa Nostra” (“Our Cause”) in the Sicilian dialect, there are other Italian mafias, the list of which is quite extensive. It includes such criminal structures as Camorra, Sacra Corona Unita, 'Ndrangheta and a number of others.

The leader of the last of them, Salvatore Coluccio, who, according to Interpol, was one of the ten most dangerous criminals in the world, was also arrested in 2009. Even a special bunker, built by him in a remote mountainous region of the country, equipped with the latest technology and equipped with an autonomous life support system, did not save him from the hands of justice.

And today among the criminal structures operating in various countries world, the Italian mafia occupies a special place. Photos of its most famous leaders, replicated in different times means mass media, are also included in this article. This is the famous Al Capone - a legend of the underworld of the thirties and forties, and John Gotti, who spent his entire life in contract killings, but at the same time earned the nickname Elegant John, as well as Carlo Gambino - a born Sicilian, who stood at the head of the most powerful criminal family in America, distributing its influence on many countries of the world. The common destiny of these people was prison, where many members of the organization they created ended their lives.

What couldn't the Italian mafia do?

And there was only one thing where the Italian mafia was powerless - in Russia it failed to take control of anything. Under the communists, such an idea was absurd due to the peculiarities of the political and economic structure of the country, and in the post-Soviet period, when domestic policy was reoriented towards a capitalist way, it had its own “godfathers”. They created crime clans that inherited the style of the Italian mafia and in many ways surpassed it.

Therefore, initially, when the mafia appeared in the USA in particular, in the local underworld the Italians were perceived with a degree of irony, because were engaged in petty robbery and racketeering, which was usual for them in Italy, without any special aspirations for control large business structures. At the time, major American cities were largely dominated by Jewish and Irish criminal gangs.

However, almost unquestioning loyalty to the code of honor - omerta, immediate vendetta (blood feud) against family offenders, discipline and loyalty to the family and incredible cruelty allowed Italian groups to quickly take leading roles in the American underworld.

Seize and control almost all areas of business, bribe most of the country's largest judges and officials. To kill competition in many industries, for example, the “twin towers” ​​were forced to pay a waste removal company controlled by the Italians 1 million 100 thousand dollars a year (in those years this was a huge amount). Moreover, the mafiosi did not do any intimidation, they simply did not allow other companies to enter this market, this company was the only such company in the New York market!

Gambino mafia family

Loyalty to tradition in the Italian mafia

Loyalty to tradition left its bright imprint on the criminal code of honor, so for the most part all family members were exemplary family men and cases of betrayal were quite rare, even despite the fact that the mafia controlled almost all entertainment businesses: prostitution, gambling, alcohol and cigarettes. Cheating on one's wife was perceived by the family as a slap in the face and was brutally suppressed. Of course, in the modern age everything has changed a lot, but this tradition lasted for quite a long time. Showing attention to the wives of friends and family members was strictly taboo.

Due to the fact that the profession of mafia members was accompanied by a certain risk to life, each family member knew perfectly well that in the event of his death, his family would be taken care of financially no worse than when he was alive.

Long years of oppression of the Sicilians by an aggressive government have led to the fact that the word “policeman” can still get you a slap in the face in Sicily. One of the most important points of omerta is the complete lack of contact with the police, much less cooperation with them. A person will never be accepted into a family if he close relative serves in the police, even appearing on the street in the company of police officers was punishable, sometimes by the most high bar- death.

This tradition allowed the mafia to exist very for a long time without any problems with the US government. The US government did not recognize the existence of the Italian mafia until the mid-20th century, due to insufficient information about the structure and extent of penetration of organized crime into business and politics.

Mafia clans in the USA

Alcoholism and drug addiction were considered a vice, but despite the ban, many family members were addicted to both, one of the least observed laws of omerta, but family members who drank and stabbed themselves, as a rule, did not live long and died at the hands of their own comrades.

No person can enter the family by introducing himself as a capo or mafia don; the only way to get into the family is the recommendation of a family member and his willingness to introduce you to the family. There are no other ways.

Strict punctuality; you must not be late for any meeting; this is considered bad manners. The same rule includes showing respect for any meetings, including meetings with enemies. There should be no killings during them. One of the reasons that numerous wars between various families and clans of the Italian mafia quickly subsided, at meetings a truce was declared and often the dons of the families found a common language and solved the accumulated problems.

When talking with any family member, even the smallest lie is considered a betrayal, the duty of each family member in response to asked question to tell the truth, whatever it may be, naturally the rule applies only to members of one criminal group. The strictness of execution, in fact, was monitored at the lower levels of the hierarchical structure; naturally, in the upper layers of the hierarchy, lies and betrayal existed right up to the murder by the right hand of the head of the family.

Do not lead an idle lifestyle, full compliance with moral principles

No family member had the right to engage in looting and robbery without the approval of the boss or capo. Visiting places of entertainment without necessity or direct instructions was strictly prohibited. The law also allowed the mafia to remain in the shadows, because an intoxicated family member could blurt out a lot of things, where this information could cause significant damage to the family.

Appropriating other people's money without any instructions from the head of the family was a strict taboo. From childhood, young men were brought up within the framework of the laws of devotion to the family, that it is a great shame to be an outcast, that without a family a person’s life has no meaning. In this regard, in the circles of the Italian mafia, “lone wolves” were very, very rarely encountered, and if they were encountered, they did not live long; such behavior was punishable by immediate death.

Vendetta - blood feud

As justice for failure to comply with the laws of omerta, a vendetta awaited the violator, which in different clans could be accompanied by various rituals. By the way, blood feud against both a family member and any other offender or enemy of the family had to be quick and without unnecessary torment for the victim, such as: a shot in the head or heart, a wound with a knife in the heart, etc. Those. the victim did not have to suffer all according to the “Christian” canons, however, after death, the victim’s body could already be treated barbarously and with considerable cruelty to intimidate the enemy or educate other family members.

There were also different traditions in different clans: for excessive talkativeness, a cobblestone was inserted into the corpse’s mouth; for adultery, a rose was placed on the body; a wallet with a thorn placed on the victim’s body meant that the murdered person had embezzled other people’s money. You can hear a lot of different fables about this; now it’s difficult to discern where the truth is and where the lie is.

An interesting fact is that the laws of omerta fell into the hands of the police and journalists only in 2007, during the arrest of Salvatore La Piccola, one of the bosses of Cosa Nostra; they were found among the documents found during the search and poetically called in the press “10 Commandments of Cosa Nostra”. Until this moment, no documentary evidence of the rules of the code of honor of the Italian mafiosi existed, so secretly was the criminal network organized.

It's not surprising that such organizational structure took root throughout all countries of Europe, North and South America, but oddly enough, the only European country where the Italian mafia does not have any serious influence is Russia and countries former USSR. It is difficult to imagine what this is connected with, including the absence of emigrants of Italian origin, the language barrier and slightly different moral standards of the local population, and a fairly strong local criminal network.

Sicilian mafia. . What is this? Underworld brand? Theme for Hollywood films? No, it's - Sicilian reality which has been going on for many years. Let's talk about the history of the mafia.

The history of the Sicilian mafia

Historical roots the mafia needs to be looked for in 8th-9th centuries. At that time Sicily was a stronghold Byzantium in the Mediterranean Sea, but the Arabs systematically and brutally tried to establish themselves on the island. The voluntary militia protected the fishermen and peasants of the island, and they paid as a token of gratitude, some with money, some with grain or fish. Arabs in 831 they captured, and by 965 the entire island.

But the Byzantine tradition of thanking defenders remained, taking on more and more bizarre forms over time. They overlapped with the concept of honor characteristic of residents of closed communities: you must always be able to stand up for yourself and instantly respond to any act of injustice or disrespect for yourself. This is the basis of the mafia - the ability to respect others and the unconditional demand for self-respect, the ability to be grateful and the ability to stand up for yourself and your family.

The beginning of the 12th century - the decline of the Normans on the island. This is one of many periods of anarchy. And every such period the mafia will gain momentum. Papal governors, local barons, and Arabs fought among themselves and plundered the country. The time is coming Vendicosi(Avengers). A mysterious sect of murderers and executioners, people from the aristocratic families of Palermo, Beati Paoli(Blessed Pauls), people in black hoods covering their faces. They help everyone who wants to take revenge for insults and injustice. Payment is taken for services or money. One of the first secret societies The Middle Ages would last until the 18th century, and its heyday would be in Hard times Inquisition.

From the beginning of the 16th century, the most difficult period in the history of Sicily began - the Spanish. Until 1713, the island was under Spanish rule and ruled by viceroys. It was then that it formed as a model of life.

The entire state life rests on bribes. Sicily has been the breadbasket of Europe since the times of the Roman Empire; the island's economy is completely dependent on agriculture. Barons, owners of huge plots of land, latifundia, far away - in Naples. Estate managers have more and more power and little control. At the same time, the peasants simply have a hard life. Half-starved on fertile land, they work hard from morning to night in the crazy heat. The economy is carried out using ancient methods, without any modernization. The majority of the population lives in the mountains, with virtually no roads. And if you want to get out, it won’t really work out that way. With wild ideas about the world imposed by the Catholic Church, and these are times of complete obscurantism and dullness. And, as always and everywhere, there are dashing people who are not going to work, but who earn their living by robberies. Then the scheme is simple: the manager hires strong guys in order to spur the peasants to work, punish the dissatisfied, and protect the estate from robbery.

A classic “divorce” scheme arises - to organize trouble in order to help solve it.

Over time, gaining strength and experience, the smartest of the guards understand that managers are an extra link in the scheme. Without the support of security, the figure of the manager becomes meaningless. The island's population is completely on the side of the guards. After all, they are our own, Sicilians, close and understandable, helping to solve any current issues. Dashing people lease the vast territory of their baron's latifundia directly. They pay for rent not so much with money, but with their services. They take the main profit for themselves. Brave, cruel, self-confident people, with excellent organizational skills, rely on the support of the baron. Where should he go, Baron? He has already been given an offer that he cannot refuse. The church also did not stand aside. She was the largest landowner and gladly used their services, in turn, convincing the population of the need for obedience and patience.

The authorities at that time did not consider the mafia as a force worthy of attention. Therefore, many of the mafiosi, with the assistance of the family aristocracy and the church, naturally for large bribes, bought themselves a baronial title. Thus, the money earned through extortion and robbery received official recognition. The money laundering scheme began to work. And so, gradually, the guards of the latifundia more and more clearly turned into the figures that later became traditional capo(capo) of the rural mafia. The capos maintained close ties with each other, creating a web of uncontrolled power with the sole purpose at that time - money.

Over the course of two hundred years, the consciousness of the Sicilians changed more and more, the island became poorer, and ideas about honor were added to omertà and a certain lifestyle and a certain type of people arose - mafioso.

History of the Sicilian Mafia

IN 1865 year, the Prefect of Palermo in his official report uses the term "" to refer to criminal groups. After that, it will only be used in this sense.

In the 80s of the 19th century, the Italian wave began emigration to the USA. Among the emigrants there are also Sicilians who work for the mafia. From numerous gangs and groups a giant will grow crime syndicate, combining Sicilian traditions and American entrepreneurship.

1903 One of the first who began the fight against the mafia was Joe Petrosino, a poor Italian immigrant who became a lieutenant in the New York Police Department and head of the anti-Black Hand department. This was a slightly theatrical name for the nascent Italian mafia in America. The counterfeit dollars that filled New York at that time were printed in Sicily. More and more new mafia militants appeared, and those who came to light after brutal murders disappeared without a trace. Sicilian emigrants were constantly involved in the most notorious crimes in New York.

Joe Petrosino

1909 To identify these criminal connections, Petrosino decides to go to Palermo. Immediately upon arrival, Joe Petrosino receives an anonymous note with a request for a meeting and the address - Marine Square. Why did this smart and experienced policeman, who perfectly understood who he was dealing with, go alone to the meeting assigned to him by the informant? Most likely, he simply did not think that at eight in the evening, on a busy square in the very center of the city, two steps from the courthouse, something could happen to him. But Palermo is not New York, and it’s dangerous for people who stick their noses into other people’s business. He will be killed four shots at point-blank range, one of them in the face. It's like a signature - killed by men of honor. A reward equivalent to 40 thousand euros. But, of course, no one said anything. People at that time could not even imagine that they could talk about mafia affairs.

The names of the criminals will become known only after 105 years. In 2014, during an operation Apocalypse 95 mafia members from various clans were arrested. Before the arrest, everyone was bugged for a long time. One of them, Domenico Palazzotto, boasted in a conversation with a friend that he was from a family with a long criminal tradition. One hundred and five years ago his great-uncle, Paolo Palazzotto killed New York police officer Joe Petrosino on orders from a Mafia capo. The information was confirmed, and now this murder is considered solved.

Domenico Palazzotto

20.09.2014 0 12669

The Mafia is a criminal community that originally formed in Sicily in the second half of the 19th century and extended its activities to big cities USA and other countries. Represents an association (“family”) criminal groups, having a common organization, structure and code of conduct (omerta). Each group works in a specific area.

IN last decades The word “mafia,” used inappropriately, has become commonplace. It came to Russian and many other languages ​​from Italy, but even there, in its ancestral home, there are no unambiguous explanations for the origin of the word and the phenomenon it denotes; there are only different assumptions on this score. However, the etymology of the word is not as important as the essence of the mafia itself. How should we feel about this organization? Is she really that scary and were there any rich history Are there truly “glorious pages” that one can rightfully be proud of?

INDUSTRY OF VIOLENCE

The adjective mafiusu may be derived from the Arabic mahyas, meaning "boasting, boasting". According to sociologist Diego Gambeta, in 19th-century Sicily the term mafiusu had two meanings when referring to people: “arrogant bully” and “fearless, proud.” In general, there are many options for deciphering this term. The word “mafia” directly in relation to criminal groups was first voiced in 1843 in Gaetano Mosca’s comedy “Mafiosi from Vicaria Prison”.

And 20 years later, Antonio Guapterio, the prefect of Palermo, used it officially for the first time: in a report to the government, he wrote: “The so-called mafia, that is, criminal associations, has become bolder.” Leopoldo Francetti, who traveled to Sicily and wrote one of the first serious works on the mafia in 1876, described it as an “industry of violence.”

He wrote: “The term “mafia” implies a class of brutal criminals who, in view of the role they play in the life of Sicilian society, claim a special name for themselves, other than simply the vulgar “criminals”, as in other countries.”

Subsequently, the term “mafia” was also used to refer to any ethnic criminal groups, partly copying the structure of the classical Sicilian mafia (for example, the Mexican, Japanese, Caucasian, Russian, etc. mafia). At home, in Sicily, the mafia has given name Cosa Nostra. But there is no complete identity here: Cosa Nostra is always a mafia, but not every mafia is Cosa Nostra. In Italy, the USA or Japan, the Camorra, 'Ndrangheta, Sacra, Unita, Yakuza and other national mafias operate.

GENTLEMEN OR ROBBERS?

The notorious code of conduct for the mafia, written, according to legend, by one of the “godfathers” of Cosa Nostra, Salvatore Piccolo, consists of 10 commandments. Here are some:

1. No one can come up and introduce themselves to one of our friends. He must be introduced by another friend of ours.

2. Never look at your friends' wives.

3. Your duty is to always be at the disposal of the “family”, even if your wife gives birth.

4. Show up for your appointments on time.

5. Treat your wives with respect...etc. d.

Agree - it’s quite suitable as the rules of conduct for a decent gentleman. The commandments of the mafia are by no means advisory in nature; their strict observance is vigilantly monitored by the head of the clan (“family”), Don.

Perhaps, based on this, and also thanks to the efforts of the authors of Hollywood action films, a stable image of a typical mafioso has developed. Something like this:

He is always dressed in an expensive black suit with white stripes, a wide-brimmed felt borsalino hat on his head, and black patent leather shoes on his feet;

Clean-shaven or wears a short, foppish mustache;

A long raincoat, under which one can guess a Tommy gun or a pair of Colts;

He drives exclusively a Cadillac, the engine of which never turns off when stopped.

FROM RAGS TO RICHES AND BACK

Over its almost two-century history, the world mafia has shown the world a whole galaxy of dons who have gained wide fame. The first name that comes to mind when mentioning the mafia is the legendary Al Capone, or Big Al. He was born in 1899 in Naples, in the family of a hairdresser. As a boy, he and his family went to America, like many poor Sicilian families of those years. They settled in Brooklyn, New York.

The family was poor, barely making ends meet. Soon Capone found himself in the ranks of a youth gang. Thanks to his powerful build, he was very useful in the endless showdowns of street gangs that traded in robberies and robberies. Al Capone, who had reached adulthood, was noticed by New York mafia boss Frank Ayale, who a couple of years later handed the 21-year-old guy over to his criminal colleague, Chicago mafia boss Johnny Torrio.

The one in Chicago had serious problems with one of the rival clans. Torrio needed a man who could gain a reputation in Chicago for lawlessness and who would be feared not only by local residents, but also by the enemies of Torrio’s group. Al Capone went to Chicago with his new boss. That’s where Big Al was born, terrifying not only local residents with his strength and incredible cruelty, but also rival gangsters. He soon displaced his boss, becoming the de facto king of the underworld of Chicago, and perhaps all of America.

It got to the point that the US President called Capone “public enemy No. 1.” There were many murders hanging on it, but none of them could be proven - there were no witnesses. Then in 1931, Al Capone was arrested and sentenced to 11 years in prison, a $50,000 fine and confiscation of property for tax evasion.

After five years spent in the impregnable Alcatraz prison on the island of the same name in San Francisco Bay, Capone developed chronic syphilis and began to have mental problems. Moreover, in a clash with other prisoners, he received knife wound. In 1939, Al Capone was released helpless and sick. By this time, his yesterday's cronies had already seized power in Chicago. Abandoned by everyone, he died in 1947 as a result of a stroke.

But Big Al is just one of many famous godfathers of Cosa Nostra. No less popular in his time was Vito Cascio Ferro, usually called Don Vito. This impeccably dressed, stately man with aristocratic manners perfected the hierarchical system of the mafia. He also introduced the concept of u pizzu - the right to trade, which is received from the mafia (of course, for free) by non-members of the clan. Don Vito gave the mafia an international dimension by going to New York in 1901 and establishing connections with local mafiosi.

At the same time, he was so active that after Vito returned to Sicily, an anti-mafia fighter, New York policeman Joe Petrosino, arrived here. However, he was immediately shot dead in one of the city squares of Palermo. Suspicion fell on Don Vito, but one of the deputies of the Sicilian parliament at the trial swore by Saint Mary that at the time of the murder the accused was at his dinner.

And yet, in 1927, Cesare Mori, nicknamed the Iron Prefect, managed to put Don Vito behind bars for a long time. When Sicily came under aerial bombardment before the Allied invasion in 1943, the prison was immediately evacuated. By a strange accident, everyone except Vito was evacuated, which was later attributed to extreme haste. The famous mafia leader died a week later in his cell from exhaustion.

BENEFITS ABOVE EVERYTHING

But the Italian mafia did not only rob and engage in racketeering. She also happened to take part in historical events. On May 4, 1860, an uprising broke out against the king in Sicily, under the rule of the head of the so-called Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. The mafia, already a serious force, refrained from participating for the time being, waiting to see where the scales would tip.

It is unknown what the fate of both Sicily and the mafia would have been if not for Giuseppe Garibaldi, who, at the head of a detachment of “red shirts,” landed on the island. The rebels, and now the mafiosi, joined him and, through joint efforts, overthrew Francis of Bourbon, who ruled the island, and brought the people's hero of Italy to power. However, the mafia understood that any strong government would hinder its activities. Therefore, occupying leadership positions, the mafiosi forced Garibaldi to leave the island and created all the conditions for their subsequent hegemony not only in Sicily, but also in other regions of Italy.

ENEMY NUMBER ONE

In the entire history of the Italian mafia, there was only one person who managed to seriously rein it in and at the same time remain alive. And this man was Benito Mussolini. In 1922, after the famous “March on Rome,” Mussolini came to power. A fascist regime was established in the country. A year later, Mussolini decided to visit Sicily. He was accompanied by the same Iron Prefect Cesare Mori.

Arriving on the island and seeing the number of guards ensuring his safety, the Duce quickly realized the seriousness of the situation that had developed on the mafia fiefdom. At that time, power here actually belonged to a certain Don Ciccio, who made a big mistake by turning familiarly to Mussolini. Soon the poor fellow ended up in prison. It is obvious that the mafia, being a strong and organized structure, was dangerous for the young fascist state.

Mussolini could not at that time allow the presence of another force of any kind in the country. As a result of the drastic measures taken, some of the mafiosi were shot, and the surviving bosses sat underground. Only Vito Genovese (aka Don Vitone) managed to ingratiate himself with the Duce by supplying drugs to his son-in-law, Count Galeazzo Ciano.

But when Vito realized that the fascists would not be in power for long, he immediately went over to the side of the American troops that had invaded the country, becoming a translator for a US Army colonel. And yet he ended his days in prison - a very common end to a career for a man of his line of work.

As a result of the persecution of the mafia during fascism, the flow of mafiosi to the USA sharply increased, where many Sicilians settled already in late XIX eka, so the new arrivals had something to cling to.

WINNERS ARE NOT JUDGED?

The year was 1943. Second World War in full swing. Having successfully completed the defeat of the German-Italian forces in North Africa, the Western Allies were preparing to invade Europe. After analyzing the situation, Sicily was chosen as a springboard for further advancement deeper into the continent. Joint operation British and American troops under the code name “Husky” were prepared in the strictest secrecy in order to ensure the effect of surprise.

Meanwhile, on the territory of the United States itself, the “fifth column” was at work, in every possible way sabotaging the shipment of military supplies to Europe. Back in February 1942, the transatlantic liner Normandy was set on fire. The sabotage was attributed to immigrants sympathetic to the Hitler regime - dockworkers of Italian origin working in the port of New York. Counterintelligence, knowing who the true owner was in the port, turned for help to Joe Lanza, a well-known racketeer of the port docks, demanding that he restore order to his household.

He, in turn, hinted that he could carry out an anti-sabotage operation only together with his boss, Charlie Luciano (aka Lucky Luciano), who was at that time serving a 50-year sentence in an American prison. The Knights of the Cloak and Dagger had no choice but to agree.

Making a deal with one of the leaders of the underworld, they hoped to pay off only by transferring Luciano to a more comfortable prison and no longer resort to his help. As soon as the mafia took over, everything fell into place. The spies were caught, the perpetrators were punished, and sabotage was stopped. Everyone was happy.

But soon the Americans again had to bow to the leaders of the underworld. To successfully carry out the Sicilian operation with minimal losses, the Allies required accurate topographical data of the area and the support of the local population. Well, who, if not Sicilian immigrants, could provide such information. And who, if not the mafia bosses, could influence local residents. The lucky one was made an offer that he could not refuse. This deal radically changed the course of further developments in Europe, and the fate of Luciano himself.

With his help, connections were instantly established with the Sicilian dons, for whom the news of the upcoming overthrow of Mussolini became a balm for the soul. They involved all the dedicated people in the cause. The most accurate topographical maps of the area where the Allied forces were to land were drawn, and a network of spies was established.

Even the ruler of all of Sicily, Calogero Vizzini - Don Calo, as he was called - took part in the matter. On June 14, 1943, on the 5th day after the successful landing of the Allies, an American plane appeared in the sky over the town of Villalba, which is located near Palermo, with a huge letter L inscribed on both sides.

She was clearly visible to all residents of the city. A package was thrown out of the plane. The people who unwrapped it found a scarf with an embroidered letter L, exactly the same as on the plane. It was a sign. A sign that Lucky Luciano sends greetings to his fellow countrymen and tells them that the time has come to act. Thus began the liberation of Sicily from the Nazis and at the same time the revival of the mafia.

In May 1945, a special New York State commission for special merit released Lucky early from prison and deported him to Italy, the country of the resurgent mafia. There is this professional in his field up to last days life led the international criminal “Syndicate”, which by the 50s of the 20th century entangled the whole world with its threads. And Luciano himself, who lived safely until 1962, was solemnly buried as a national hero.

Anatoly BUROVTSEV, Konstantin RISHES

Naturally, in the book and film, all the names have been changed and have nothing to do with the real names of the criminal families.

The 5 families themselves were formed after the so-called Castellammarese Mafia War between two Sicilian families Salvatore Maranzano and Giuseppe “Joe the Boss” Masseria for supremacy in the criminal world of New York. The fact is that, in the hierarchy of the Italian mafia, its highest level is the title capo di tutti capi, literal translation into Russian, the head of all chapters, highest rank in the mafia structure of Cosa Nostra. In the entire history of the Italian-American mafia, only two dons managed to use this title, and both of them did not live long.

The adoption of Prohibition in the United States led to the rapid growth of the Italian mafia structure; in the Little Italy region, the Sicilian Cosa Nostra gradually seized power, and the Neapolitan Camorra flourished in Brooklyn. The rapid enrichment of families allowed them to penetrate into all spheres of city life. And if initially the families treated each other more or less loyally, like compatriots, however, the clash of business interests of the families gradually began to lead to conflicts between them. Against the background of the general rapid enrichment, two families, Salvatore Maranzano and Joe Masseria, especially stood out.

The dons of both families had enormous authority in the city and both laid claim to the highest title in the mafia organization. After Joe Masseria declared himself the “boss of bosses,” a rather long, by mafia standards, Castallammara War (1929-1931, named after the native Sicilian city of Salvatore Maranzano) broke out over spheres of influence. The war was accompanied by constant clashes, kidnappings and killings on both sides. As a result, Joe Masseria was killed, as a result of a conspiracy between Salvatore Maranzano and Capo from the Misseria family, Lucky Luciano and Vito Genovese. By order of the capo, during lunch in one of the restaurants, Joe Masseria received about 20 gunshot wounds, after which he died and the Castellammarian War was over. Subsequently, one of the five families will be named after the Genovese surname.

After defeating Masseria, Maranzano became the next "boss of bosses". However, he served in this post for no more than half a year and was killed by the same Lucky Luciano, who betrayed his don and took his place in the family. Despite such actions, Lucky Luciano enjoyed great authority in the underworld and after the murder of Maranzano acted much wiser than his predecessors. It was he who came up with the idea of ​​​​creating a “Commission”, a meeting of all the bosses to solve problems that arise between families. Such a meeting was described in the book “The Godfather”. From then to this day, no one else dared to take on the title of capo di tutti capi, and in New York there were 5 families that ruled the city to this day.

Genovese family

After the murder of Masseria, Luciano became the don, and Genovese became the underboss in the family. By the way, many people mistakenly believe that Vito “Don Vito” Genovese became the prototype for Vito Corleone from “ Godfather"although this is not true. Genovese was distinguished by incredible cruelty and unscrupulousness in the struggle for power, and did not disdain drug trafficking and adultery. After Luciano is taken into custody, according to some sources, not without the help of Genovese, Vito becomes official don family and occupies one of the leading positions in the “Commission”. However, in 1937 he was forced to leave for Italy to avoid imprisonment. His place is taken by another authoritative gangster Frank Costello, who received the nickname “Prime Minister of the Mafia.”

After the charges against Genovese were dropped in 1946, Vito returned to America, but did not receive virtually any authoritative place in the family. Vito, realizing that he does not have enough strength for a direct confrontation with Costello, expressing visible devotion to him, begins to slowly crush the capos of the family, especially those associated with robbery and protecting prostitution. Gradual pressure on Costello led to his overthrow; Costello himself gave the reins of the family to Genovese. This happened after an attempt on his life, although Costello was only wounded, he recognized the man Genovese in the attacker. In order to avoid further assassination attempts and an inevitable war, he resigned.

Gambino family

The man who eventually gave the family the surname, Carlo Gambino, like Vito Genovese, was originally a member of Joe Masseria’s family. He belonged to a branch of one of the oldest Italian-American families. The first don of the family was Salvatore De Aquila, who died before the outbreak of the Castellammarese War in 1928. Then Vincent Mangano took his place and, after the end of the mafia war, took a place in one of the 5 families of New York. The capo in the Mangano family was Albert (Italian: Umberto) “Executioner” Anastasia, a man of incredible cruelty and was Carlo Gambino’s henchman. Mangano and Anastasia constantly clashed and in the end Anastasia killed Mangano.

After the advice of the “Commission,” they decided to leave Albert as the don of the family; after receiving the title, Anastasia finally went crazy; he began to kill too much and for no particular reason. Gambino took advantage of this; in collusion with Genovese, at the council of the “Commission”, a decision was made to kill Anastasia and Carlo Gambino became the don of the family. Genovese had no idea that Gambino would later do the same to him.

Lucchese family

Gaetano "Tommy" Lucchese, the man who gave the family's surname, collaborated with Gambino for a long time and helped him become a don. As a result, in 1962 they practically usurped power in the “Commission” and continued to control it almost until their death. Together with Gambino, Genovese was removed from power. Currently one of the most influential groups consisting of 5 families.

Colombo family

Joe Profaci is the first boss of this family, the family was formed only in 1930, despite its youth, thanks to its leader it immediately took its place in the 5 most influential families. Profaci actively collaborated with Gambino; ​​he knew very well that it was better to have a close relationship with such an insidious person. However, the family received the surname from Joseph Colombo, who became a don only in 1962, not without the help of Gambino. Gambino then already had undeniable authority in the Commission and could place the person he needed anywhere. Although in fairness it must be said that Profaci did disproportionately more for the family than Colombo. In 1971, Colombo received 3 bullets in the head, but despite this he survived and spent the next 7 years in a coma until his death.

Bonanno family

Joseph Bonanno, along with Carlo Gambino, remained a long-lived don until 1964, when he suddenly disappeared and returned 2 years later and again began to claim the place of the boss of the family. In connection with this, a local fire broke out in the family. Civil War, which lasted until 1968 and was nicknamed the “Banana Split” in the press. The war ended after Bananno suffered a massive heart attack and retired for health reasons. However, despite this, he received the honorary status of “senior judge” in the family. After Bonanno's death, the family's affairs did not go well; from 1981 to 2004, the family was completely removed from the Commission.