Italian mafia: history of appearance, names and surnames. The most famous mafiosi in the world

Gangsters are members of criminal organizations who make their living through robbery, racketeering, prostitution, drugs, and any other criminal activity that generates income. For decades, gangsters have built and continue to build their empires in all areas of the world in particular: Europe, Asia, the USA and Latin America. Most famous gangsters have received a lot of publicity due to the severity of the crimes they have committed or because of their murders. famous people- politicians, high-ranking police officers. Here is a list of the 9 most famous gangsters in history.

9 John Dillinger (June 22, 1903 – July 22, 1934)

John Dillinger was involved in crime throughout his life. His crimes included robbing about 25 banks and police stations in the United States, as well as murdering several people in Chicago. During Great Depression his activities received greatest scope, at that time he was the most famous criminal in the country. He and his gang waged a bitter war against the FBI. Due to bank robberies and police killings, the FBI declared him "public enemy number one" ( public enemy number one), a special group was created to capture him, which was only engaged in the search for Dillinger. Over time, all the members of his gang were killed, and he himself went on the run. In Chicago, his girlfriend betrayed him to the authorities and on June 22, 1934, he was ambushed at a movie theater that he was supposed to visit. John tried to resist and was wounded three times, The wound to the face turned out to be fatal.

8 Frank Costello (January 26, 1891 – February 18, 1973)

Known as the "Prime Minister of Crime", Frank Costello was a crime lord in Italian American organized crime that had big influence at the beginning of the century in the United States, especially in New York. Costello's criminal career began in a gang led by Ciro Terranova. The Terranova group was part of the even more powerful gang of the Morello brothers. Later, he meets a more authoritative representative of the criminal world, Lucky Luciano, and they quickly become business partners. Their areas of interest included robbery, usury, extortion, smuggling and illegal gambling. Over time, Frank becomes a major figure in the Sicilian mafia of New York. In May 1957, there was a completely unsuccessful attempt on his life, after which Costello decided to retire. He retained some gambling income as well as a legitimate business. Frank Costello died of a heart attack in 1973.

7 Arnold Rothstein (January 17, 1882 – November 4, 1928)

Businessman and gambler American gangster Arnold Rothstein was an organizer of match-fixing in professional sports; the scandal of the 1919 baseball championship was especially famous, when he was accused of bribing athletes, but could not be proven. Known as "the brains," Rothstein is the father of one of the most notorious Jewish gangs in New York. He organized and led several casinos, and was also actively involved in smuggling along the Hudson River and the Great Lakes. On November 4, 1928, an attempt was made on his life at the Park Central Hotel, he was seriously wounded, from which Rothstein died the next day in the hospital. According to one version, the assassination attempt occurred due to a large unpaid gambling debt.

6 Enock Johnson (January 20, 1883 – December 9, 1968)

Enoch "Nucky" Johnson was a political boss who controlled much of Atlantic City and New Jersey. His nickname "Nucky" comes from his given name. Enoch was elected sheriff of Atlantic county and held that office until his term was terminated until he was removed by judicial action. Thanks to his political situation, Nucky Johnson created his own empire, the scope of which included smuggling, gambling and prostitution. At that time, there was no prohibition in Atlantic City; this led to the city’s great popularity among Americans and accordingly increased Nucky’s income. Johnson died on December 9, 1968.

5 Lucky Luciano (November 24, 1897 – January 26, 1962)

American gangster, Charles "Lucky" Luciano, is known as the father of modern organized crime in the United States, he alone is responsible for dividing the country's influence into the five Mafia families. At the beginning of his career as a member of an Italian gang, his list of activities included racketeering, robbery, drug trafficking, organizing underground gambling houses, pimping, smuggling and many other types criminal activity, thanks to which it was possible to make a fortune and gain authority. In 1929, he was forced into a car on the street and taken to one of the deserted highways near New York by people from a rival gang. They hung him from a tree and began to torture him, trying to find out information about the drug cache; Luciano did not say a word. In the end, the bandits thought that he was dead and left him on the road without signs of life. He was picked up by a passing patrol and taken to the hospital, where he received 55 stitches, after which his friend Meyer Lansky gave him the nickname “Lucky.” Then his career took off and he became an influential mafia boss, the unofficial master of New York. In 1936, Lucky was sentenced to 30 to 50 years in prison for organizing a network of brothels. In 1942, he made a deal with the US government and participated in an operation in Sicily against Germany, for which he was released that same year. In 1962 he was invited to film documentary film about the mafia, but during a meeting with the director he had a heart attack and died on the way to the hospital.

4 Billy the Kid (November 23, 1859 – July 14, 1881)

Also known as Henry Antrim, Billy the Kid was a notorious gangster who committed his first murder at the age of 18. He operated in the second half of the 19th century in Lincoln County and was known for his unparalleled skill with weapons. Throughout his life, he killed just under 30 people and stole several horses and cattle. Billy the Kid was shot and killed on July 14, 1881 by Sheriff Pet Garrett at Fort Sumner, where he was hiding after escaping from prison.

3 Al Capone (January 17, 1899 – January 25, 1947)

Al Capone, known as "Scarface", "Big Al", was an American gangster who devoted his life to smuggling alcohol and protecting brothels and prostitutes. At a very young age, he became a member of the famous New York Five Points gang of Paolo Vaccarelli, better known as Paul Kelly, who engaged in various types criminal activity. Because of his rather small size, he became a bouncer in a billiards club, where he was slashed in the face by one of the visitors for an unflattering remark about his wife, which left him with the famous scar on his face. Due to his involvement in two murders, he was forced to move to Chicago, where he joined "Big" Jim Colosimo's gang, which ran several brothels. In which he became the boss after several gang wars. In July 1931, Capone was sentenced to 11 years in prison for tax evasion, after which, in 1934, he was transferred to the famous Alcatraz prison, from where he emerged mortally ill with syphilis, which he suffered from to one degree or another throughout his entire life. adult life. Capone died of pneumonia on January 25, 1947, 4 days after suffering a stroke.

2 Jesse James (September 5, 1847 – April 3, 1882)

The leader of the gang, who organized several bank and train robberies and murders, Jesse Woodson James, one of the most famous gangsters of the 19th century, has been portrayed many times in films and games. At that time, he was considered a kind of Robin Hood of the Wild West, robbing the rich for the benefit of the poor, which was not true, all the loot was intended only for Jesse and his gang. Jesse James was assassinated by Robert Ford on April 3, 1882. Ford shot him in the back as Jesse turned to straighten the painting on the wall.

1 Pablo Escobar (December 1, 1949 - December 2, 1993)

Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar controlled a huge drug empire from 1976 to 1993 and killed thousands of people around the world. He headed one of the most powerful and terrible criminal organizations in history - the Medellin Cocaine Cartel. His gangs consisted of soldiers and notorious criminals and controlled 80% of the US cocaine industry. He created a group of hired killers to kill policemen and officials who did not take bribes and interfered with his business. Crime rates in Colombia increased dramatically during Escobar's tenure. In the early 90s, Pablo was considered one of richest people planet, his fortune was estimated at 30 billion dollars. With the assistance of the United States, which wanted to stop the flow of drugs, Colombian authorities launched a massive attack on all areas of the cartel's activities. Because of which Pablo went on the run. On December 2, 1993, Pablo called his family at home, the call was tracked and the house where he was hiding was soon surrounded. As a result of the capture operation, Pablo Escobar was killed.

Original taken from tiina in the 15 most famous mafiosi of all time and even one mafia woman

The shady underground world of the Mafia has captured the imagination of people for many years. The luxurious but criminal lifestyle of thieves' groups has become an ideal for many. But why are we so fascinated by these men and women who are, in essence, just bandits living at the expense of those who are unable to defend themselves?

The fact is that the mafia is not just some organized crime group. Gangsters are seen as heroes rather than the villains they truly are. The criminal lifestyle looks like something out of a Hollywood movie. Sometimes it's a Hollywood movie: many of them are based on real events in the life of the mafia. In the movies, crime is ennobled, and the viewer already thinks that these bandits are in vain fallen heroes. As America gradually forgets about the days of Prohibition, it is also forgotten that bandits were looked upon as saviors who fought against an evil government. They were the Robin Hoods of the working class, pitted against impossible and strict laws. In addition, people tend to admire the powerful, rich and beautiful people and idealize them.

However, not everyone is blessed with such charisma, and many major politicians are hated rather than admired by everyone. Gangsters know how to use their charm to appear more attractive to society. It is based on heritage, on family history associated with emigration, poverty and unemployment. The classic rags to riches storyline has captivated attention for centuries. There are at least fifteen such heroes in the history of the mafia.

Frank Costello

Frank Costello was from Italy, like many other famous mafiosi. He headed the feared and famous Luciano family in the criminal world. Frank moved to New York at the age of four and, as soon as he grew up, immediately found his place in the world of crime, leading gangs. When the infamous Charles "Lucky" Luciano went to prison in 1936, Costello quickly rose through the ranks to lead the Luciano clan, later known as the Genovese clan.

He was called the Prime Minister because he ruled the criminal world and really wanted to get into politics, connecting the Mafia and Tammany Hall, political society Democratic Party USA in New York. The ubiquitous Costello ran casinos and gaming clubs throughout the country, as well as in Cuba and other Caribbean islands. He was extremely popular and respected among his people. It is believed that the image of Vito Corleone, the hero of the 1972 film " Godfather", based on Costello. Of course, he also had enemies: in 1957, an attempt was made on his life, during which the mafioso was wounded in the head, but miraculously survived. He died only in 1973 from a heart attack.

Jack Diamond

Jack "Legs" Diamond was born in Philadelphia in 1897. He was a significant figure during Prohibition and a leader of organized crime in the United States. Earning the nickname Legs for his ability to quickly evade pursuit and his extravagant style of dancing, Diamond was also known for unprecedented cruelty and murder. His criminal escapades in New York went down in history, as did his liquor smuggling organizations in and around the city.

Realizing that this was very profitable, Diamond moved on to larger prey, organizing truck robberies and opening underground liquor stores. But it was the order to kill the famous gangster Nathan Kaplan that helped him strengthen his status in the world of crime, putting him on a par with such serious guys as Lucky Luciano and Dutch Schultz, who later stood in his way. Although Diamond was feared, he became a target himself on several occasions, earning the nicknames Skeet and the Unkillable Man due to his ability to get away with it every time. But one day his luck ran out and he was shot dead in 1931. Diamond's killer was never found.

John Gotti

Known for leading the notorious and virtually invulnerable New York Mafia family Gambino family at the turn of the 1980s and 1990s, John Joseph Gotti Jr. became one of the most influential people in the mafia. He grew up in poverty, one of thirteen children. He quickly joined the criminal atmosphere, becoming the six of the local gangster and his mentor Aniello Dellacroce. In 1980, Gotti's 12-year-old son Frank was crushed to death by neighbor and family friend John Favara. Although the incident was ruled an accident, Favara received numerous threats and was later attacked with a baseball bat. A few months later, Favara disappeared under mysterious circumstances, and his body has still not been found.

With his impeccable good looks and stereotypical gangster style, Gotti quickly became a tabloid darling, earning the nickname The Teflon Don. He was in and out of prison, it was difficult to catch him red-handed, and each time he ended up behind bars for short term. However, in 1990, thanks to wiretaps and inside information, the FBI finally caught Gotti and charged him with murder and extortion. Gotti died in prison in 2002 from laryngeal cancer and at the end of his life he faintly resembled the Teflon Don who never left the pages of the tabloids.

Frank Sinatra

That's right, Sinatra himself was once an alleged associate of gangster Sam Giancana and even the ubiquitous Lucky Luciano. He once stated: “If it weren’t for my interest in music, I probably would have ended up in the criminal world.” Sinatra was exposed as having ties to the mafia when his participation in the so-called Havana Conference, a mafia meeting in 1946, became known. Newspaper headlines then shouted: “Shame on Sinatra!” Sinatra’s double life became known not only to newspaper reporters, but also to the FBI, which had been monitoring the singer since the beginning of his career. His personal file contained 2,403 pages of interactions with the mafia.

What stirred the public the most was his relationship with John F. Kennedy before he became president. Sinatra allegedly used his contacts in the criminal world to help the future leader in the presidential election campaign. The mafia lost faith in Sinatra because of his friendship with Robert Kennedy, who was involved in the fight against organized crime, and Giancana turned his back on the singer. Then the FBI calmed down a little. Despite obvious evidence and information linking Sinatra to such major mafia figures, the singer himself often denied any relationship with gangsters, calling such statements a lie.

Mickey Cohen

Myer "Mickey" Harris Cohen has been a pain in the LAPD's ass for years. He had a stake in every branch of organized crime in Los Angeles and several other states. Cohen was born in New York but moved to Los Angeles with his family when he was six years old. After starting a promising career in boxing, Cohen abandoned the sport to follow the path of crime and ended up in Chicago, where he worked for the famous Al Capone.

After several successful years during the Prohibition era, Cohen was sent to Los Angeles under the patronage of the famous Las Vegas gangster Bugsy Siegel. Siegel's murder struck a nerve with the sensitive Cohen, and the police began to take notice of the violent and hot-tempered bandit. After several assassination attempts, Cohen turned his home into a fortress, installing alarm systems, floodlights and bulletproof gates, and hiring Johnny Stompanato, who was then dating Hollywood actress Lana Turner, as a bodyguard.

In 1961, when Cohen was still influential, he was convicted of tax evasion and sent to the famous Alcatraz prison. He became the only prisoner who was released from this prison on bail. Despite numerous assassination attempts and constant manhunt, Cohen died in his sleep at the age of 62.

Henry Hill

Henry Hill inspired the creators of one of the best films about the mafia - “Goodfellas”. It was he who said the phrase: “For as long as I can remember, I always wanted to become a gangster.” Hill was born in New York in 1943 into an honest, working family with no connections to the mafia. However, in his youth he joined the Lucchese clan due to the large number of bandits in his area. He began to quickly advance in his career, but due to the fact that he was of both Irish and Italian descent, he could not take a high position.

Once Hill was arrested for beating a gambler who refused to pay the money he lost and was sentenced to ten years in prison. It was then that he realized that the lifestyle he led in freedom was essentially similar to that behind bars, and he constantly received some kind of preferences. After his release, Hill became seriously involved in selling drugs, which is why he was arrested. He surrendered his entire gang and overthrew several very influential gangsters. He entered the federal witness protection program in 1980, but blew his cover two years later and the program ended. Despite this, he managed to live to the age of 69. Hill died in 2012 from heart problems.

James Bulger

Another Alcatraz veteran is James Bulger, nicknamed Whitey. He received this nickname because of his silky blond hair. Bulger grew up in Boston and from the very beginning caused a lot of problems for his parents, running away from home several times and once even joining a traveling circus. Bulger was first arrested at the age of 14, but this did not stop him, and by the end of the 1970s he found himself in the criminal underground.

Bulger worked for the mafia clan, but at the same time he was an FBI informant and told the police about the affairs of the once famous Patriarca clan. As Bulger expanded his own criminal network, police began to pay more attention to him rather than the information he provided. As a result, Bulger had to escape from Boston, and he ended up on the list of the most wanted criminals for fifteen years.

Bulger was caught in 2011 and charged with several crimes, including 19 murders, money laundering, extortion and drug trafficking. After trial, which lasted two months, the famous gang leader was found guilty and sentenced to two life sentences prison terms and five more years of imprisonment, and Boston was finally able to sleep peacefully.

Bugsy Siegel

Known for his Las Vegas casinos and criminal empire, Benjamin Siegelbaum, known in the criminal world as Bugsy Siegel, is one of the most notorious gangsters in modern history. Starting with a mediocre Brooklyn gang, young Bugsy met another aspiring bandit, Meer Lansky, and created the Murder Inc. group, specializing in contract killings. It included gangsters of Jewish origin.

Becoming increasingly famous in the world of crime, Siegel sought to kill old New York gangsters and even had a hand in eliminating Joe “The Boss” Masseria. After several years of smuggling and shootings on the West Coast, Siegel began to earn large sums and acquired connections in Hollywood. He became a real star thanks to his Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas. The $1.5 million project was financed from the bandit common fund, but during construction the estimate was significantly exceeded. old friend and Siegel's partner Lansky decided that Siegel was stealing funds and partially investing in legal businesses. He was brutally murdered in his own home, riddled with bullets, and Lansky quickly took over management of the Flamingo Hotel, denying any involvement in the murder.

Vito Genovese

Vito Genovese, known as Don Vito, was an Italian-American gangster who rose to fame during Prohibition and beyond. He was also called the Boss of Bosses and led the famous Genovese clan. He is famous for making heroin a popular drug.

Genovese was born in Italy and moved to New York in 1913. Quickly joining in criminal circles, Genovese soon met Lucky Luciano, and together they destroyed their rival, gangster Salvatore Maranzano. Escaping from the police, Genovese returned to his native Italy, where he remained until the end of World War II, making friends with Benito Mussolini himself. Upon his return, he immediately returned to his old lifestyle, seizing power in the world of crime and once again becoming the man everyone feared. In 1959, he was accused of drug trafficking and sent to prison for 15 years. In 1969, Genovese died of a heart attack at the age of 71.

Lucky Luciano

Charles Luciano, nicknamed Lucky, was seen many times in criminal adventures with other gangsters. Luciano received his nickname due to the fact that he survived a dangerous stab wound. He is called the founder of the modern mafia. Over the years of his mafia career, he managed to organize the murders of two major bosses and create an absolutely new principle functioning of organized crime. He had a hand in creating the famous "Five Families" of New York and the national crime syndicate.

Having lived quite a long time social life, Lucky became a popular character among the population and the police. Maintaining an image and a stylish image, Lucky began to attract attention, as a result of which he was charged with organizing prostitution. When he was behind bars, he continued to conduct business both outside and inside. It is believed that he even had his own cook there. After his release he was sent to Italy, but settled in Havana. Under pressure from the US authorities, the Cuban government was forced to get rid of him, and Lucky went to Italy forever. He died of a heart attack in 1962 at the age of 64.

Maria Licciardi

Although the world of the mafia is mainly a world of men, it cannot be said that there were no women among the mafiosi. Maria Licciardi was born in Italy in 1951 and led the Licciardi clan, a notorious Camorra, Neapolitan criminal group. Licciardi, nicknamed the Godmother, is still very famous in Italy, and most of her family is connected to the Neapolitan mafia. Licciardi specialized in drug trafficking and racketeering. She took over the clan when her two brothers and husband were arrested. Although many were unhappy since she became the first female head of a mafia clan, she managed to quell the unrest and successfully unite several city clans, expanding the drug trade market.

In addition to her activities in the field of drug trafficking, Licciardi is also known for human trafficking. She used underage girls from neighboring countries, such as Albania, forcing them to work as prostitutes, thus violating the long-standing Neapolitan Mafia code of honor that one should not make money from prostitution. After a heroin deal went wrong, Licciardi was placed on the most wanted list and arrested in 2001. Now she is behind bars, but, according to rumors, Maria Licciardi continues to lead the clan, which has no intention of stopping.

Frank Nitti

Known as the face of Al Capone's Chicago crime syndicate, Frank "Bouncer" Nitti became the top man in the Italian-American Mafia once Al Capone was behind bars. Nitti was born in Italy and came to the United States when he was only seven years old. It didn't take long before he started getting into trouble, which attracted the attention of Al Capone. In his criminal empire, Nitti quickly succeeded.

As a reward for his impressive successes during Prohibition, Nitti became one of Al Capone's closest associates and strengthened his position in the Chicago crime syndicate, also called the Chicago Outfit. Although he was nicknamed the Bouncer, Nitti delegated tasks rather than breaking bones himself, and often orchestrated multiple approaches during raids and attacks. In 1931, Nitti and Capone were sent to prison for tax evasion, where Nitti suffered terrible bouts of claustrophobia that plagued him for the rest of his life.

Upon his release, Nitti became the new leader of the Chicago Outfit, having survived assassination attempts by rival mafia groups and even the police. When things got really bad and Nitti realized that arrest could not be avoided, he shot himself in the head so that he would never suffer from claustrophobia again.

Sam Giancana

Another respected gangster in the underworld is Sam "Mooney" Giancana, who was once the most powerful gangster in Chicago. Having started out as a driver in Al Capone's inner circle, Giancana quickly made his way to the top, making acquaintances with several politicians, including the Kennedy clan. Giancana was even called to testify in a case in which the CIA organized an assassination attempt on Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Giancana was believed to have key information.

Not only did Giancana's name appear in the case, but there were also rumors that the mafia had made a huge contribution to election campaign John F. Kennedy, including ballot stuffing in Chicago. The connection between Giancana and Kennedy was increasingly discussed, and many believed that Frank Sinatra was an intermediary to deflect the Feds' suspicions.

Things soon went downhill due to speculation that the Mafia had a hand in the assassination of JFK. After spending the rest of his life wanted by the CIA and rival clans, Giancana was shot in the back of the head while cooking in his basement. There were many versions of the murder, but the perpetrator was never found.

Meer Lansky

Just as influential as Lucky Luciano, if not more, Meer Lansky, whose real name is Meer Sukhomlyansky, was born in the city of Grodno, which then belonged to Russian Empire. Having moved to America at a young age, Lansky learned the taste of the streets by fighting for money. Lansky not only could take care of himself, but he was also exceptionally smart. Becoming an integral part of the emerging world of American organized crime, Lansky was at one point one of the most powerful men in the United States, if not the world, with operations in Cuba and several other countries.

Lansky, who was friends with such high-ranking mobsters as Bugsy Siegel and Lucky Luciano, was both a feared and respected man. He was a major player in the alcohol smuggling market during Prohibition, running a very profitable business. When things went better than expected, Lansky became nervous and decided to retire by emigrating to Israel. However, he was deported back to the US two years later, but still managed to avoid prison as he died of lung cancer at the age of 80.

Al Capone

Alfonso Gabriel Capone, nicknamed the Great Al, needs no introduction. Perhaps this is the most famous gangster in history and he is known all over the world. Capone came from a respected and prosperous family. At the age of 14, he was kicked out of school for hitting a teacher, and he decided to take a different path, plunging into the world of organized crime.

Under the influence of gangster Johnny Torrio, Capone began his path to fame. He earned a scar that earned him the nickname Scarface. Doing everything from alcohol smuggling to murder, Capone was immune to the police, free to move around and do as he pleased.

The games ended when Al Capone's name became involved in a brutal mass murder, which was called the Valentine's Day Massacre. Several gangsters from rival gangs died in this massacre. The police could not attribute the crime to Capone himself, but they had other ideas: he was arrested for tax evasion and sentenced to eleven years in prison. Later, when the gangster's health deteriorated greatly due to illness, he was released on bail. He died of a heart attack in 1947, but the world of crime was changed forever.

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 had Arab origin, which designated all sorts of criminal elements or, more simply put, 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 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 one good reason leaving the mafia could mean 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 as 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. Breaking 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 of the 19th century and the prerequisite for its emergence 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

On turn of the 19th century and XX 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 one, of which it was an integral part.

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 largely undermined its 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 merging with government agencies. 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 of the 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 politics reoriented towards a capitalist way, its own “godfathers” appeared. They created crime clans that inherited the style of the Italian mafia and in many ways surpassed it.

If you ask the first person you meet which country is the birthplace of the mafia, even the least knowledgeable person will give the correct answer without much thought: Italy. This country can actually be called a “flower garden” of the mafia, which has become one of the favorite topics in history and cinema textbooks.

This is not to say that the mafiosi did anything positive or outstanding, but many still admire the unsurpassed talent of the most famous criminals, most of whom, of course, have Italian roots.

Al Capone, of course, this name is well known not only in the sunniest country located on the Apennine Peninsula, but throughout the world. The name is scandalous famous gangster is probably the most recognizable. And it’s not surprising: several films were made about Capone, the most popular of which was the 1987 film “The Untouchables” with Robert De Niro in the title role.

The story of the notorious Mafia figure, who was born in Brooklyn in 1889 after his family migrated to the United States, begins in 1919, when he entered the service of Johnny Torii. In 1925, he headed the Torii family and since then his “criminal” career has grown rapidly. Soon Capone was no longer afraid of anyone or anything: his people were engaged in gambling, selling drugs and prostitution. He earned a reputation as an honest, intelligent, but endlessly cruel person.

One need only remember the famous St. Valentine's Day massacre, when a group led by a gangster killed many mafia leaders.

When the police were lucky enough to apprehend the great criminal, they simply could not charge him with anything other than tax evasion. However, in the end, Al Capone still ended up behind bars: he was in the famous Alcatraz prison, from where he emerged seven years later with a fatal illness and soon died.

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Bernardo Provenzano

Bernardo Provenzano, a native of a small village located on, was simply destined to become one of the members of the group of the same name. Already in his youth he fell into the Corleone clan, and after a couple of years he had already killed several people and carried out a lot of illegal transactions. For 10 years, the name Provenzano hung in police stations on the “Wanted” stand, but the local carabinieri did not even try to find this dangerous criminal. Meanwhile, he continued to move up the career ladder and gain authority. It was rumored that Provenzano for some time controlled all the illegal business in Palermo, from drug sales to prostitution. He was known for his intransigence and stubbornness, for which he received the nickname Bulldozer.

Many years later, the police managed to detain the criminal: they saw a thin old man in ordinary jeans and a T-shirt. Provenzano will spend the rest of his days in prison.

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Albert Anastasia

Like many of his colleagues, Albert Anastasia was born in sunny Italy (the city of Tropea), but soon after his birth he migrated with his parents to America. The first time he went to prison was in his youth, when he killed a longshoreman in Brooklyn. He was sentenced to several years, but after some time the main witness in the Anastasia case died in mysterious circumstances, and the criminal himself was released.

Albert Anastasia gained fame as one of America's most ruthless killers.

He was a member of the Masseria gang, but over time he went over to the side of his boss’s competitors, and a couple of years later he was even present at the murder former boss. After this, Anastasia became the head of the gang of highly professional killers “Murder Inc.”, the Gambino clan. Police say the group has been involved in at least 400 deaths. The killer himself was killed on the order of one of the American mafiosi.

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Colombo

The Colombo family is one of the most famous families mafia in New York. At first, the family was called Profacci, not Colombo, but after Joseph Colobmo became capo in 1963, the clan was named after his last name. Joseph was very different from those capos who ruled before him - in principle, there were no others like him after. At first, other mafiosi believed that he was weak and indecisive, but then they realized how wrong they were: Colombo was not only fast and decisive, but also very smart, a real diplomat. So, in order to divert the attention of the authorities from the mafia, he created the Italian-American League, dedicated to protecting the civil rights of Italians living in America. This group became very popular, especially since Colombo managed to attract even Frank Sinatra to the peaceful activities of this group (it really was peaceful, although it covered up the mafia).

True, his brainchild also destroyed its creator - during one of the performances, a certain black man named Jerome Johnson shot Columbo three times in the head. Naturally, Colombo’s bodyguards did not allow the offender to leave, shooting him on the spot. It turned out that Columbo did not die, but his brain functions were irreversibly impaired, reducing him to the level of a plant existence.

Gambino

Gambino is a representative of one of the five most powerful mafia clans in New York. In principle, it was Gambino who ensured that Colombo became a capo, but after the creation of the Italian-American League, he broke off warm relations with him, although he did not start an open war. In any case, Colombo was a protege of Gambino, and the latter did not forgive the death of Colombo to one of the “oppositionists”, who openly rebelled against the most powerful of all the mafiosi of those times. In the end, all resistance was crushed, all dissatisfied were killed, and Gambino became the father of the fathers of the mafia godfathers. He died of natural causes from a heart attack in 1976, and his clan still bears his name.

Capone

Of course, the history of the Mafia cannot fail to mention the name of the powerful Alphonse Gabriel "Al" Capone, nicknamed "Scarface." Capone received his nickname at the beginning of his career, when he coveted the sister (according to other sources, the wife) of one of the gangsters named Frank Galluccio. In a fight with Galluccio, Capone could not protect himself from a knife blow that cut his face. In 1921, Capone went to Chicago and joined the local gang, in which he began active activities, eventually becoming the unofficial “king” of Chicago. He made the greatest profit from the trade in alcohol, “bootlegging,” at a time when strict Prohibition reigned in the United States. The end of the Capone empire came after the best of the US Tax Police agents, Eddie O'Hair, proved Capone's illegal activities, and after numerous trials he ended up in the notorious Alcatraz. Five years later, he left there weak and sick - untreated syphilis, contracted by Capone during his irrepressible youth, took its toll. Ultimately, the half-mad “king” died of a massive cerebral hemorrhage in January 1947.

Luciano

Charles "Lucky" Luciano is one of the most famous and successful gangsters of the early 20th century. The heyday of Luciano's empire came in 1929, when the entire Italian mafia in the United States was reorganizing. After he became an authority figure, Luciano's enemies tracked him down, took him to an abandoned place, beat him to a pulp, cut him up and left him for dead. However, he survived, which earned him the nickname “Lucky.” Luciano made his greatest profit from drug trafficking. In the end, he had to leave America for Italy, and Luciano chose to go to Sicily, where he reorganized the local mafia, introducing new type management - just like in large corporations. He succeeded, and the empire of “Lucky” covered the entire Mediterranean.

In 1961, the mafioso received an offer from the then famous producer and screenwriter Martin A. Ghosh to make a film based on his life. However, the film did not work out - Luciano had a heart attack at the Naples airport, which killed him. At that time, about 200 mafia clans worked under Luciano in Sicily and Calabria, and 20 thousand people worked for him in Italy alone.