Salvatore Maranzano is one of the most influential names for organized crime that flourished in America in the early 30s of the last century. He was the leader of the Castellammares who came from his hometown in Italy. He became famous for his stubborn confrontation with the head of the entire Italian Mafia of America, Joe Masseria, who decided to autonomously manage all the huge organized crime of the United States.
We begin our acquaintance with this mafia boss from the time when he was still in his native Sicily. We will understand how he ended up in the States and how his life ended.
Youth Mafiosi
"Little Caesar" (Salvatore had such a nickname) was born in a small town in Sicily called Castellammare del Golfo on July 31, 1886. He was a smart and well-read young man who was fond of the history of ancient Rome, especially, he liked Julius Caesar. Since childhood, the boy dreamed of becoming a priest, and even entered the seminary after leaving school. Salvatore Maranzano has always been distinguished from the crowd by a beautiful appearance, good manners and special charisma.
But his life turned abruptly when he switched to the side of the mafia. Apparently, the whole family of Salvatore Maranzano worked for Don Vito Cashio Ferro, influential at that time. After a while, the young man moves to America. Many researchers of his biography believe that, most likely, Salvatore sent his authoritative boss to intelligence, so that he would spread his influence on the mafia of those parts. After the end of World War I, many Italians moved overseas, and gangsters flourished.
Career start in the USA
The Italian mafiosi emigrated in 1925, having settled in Brooklyn. Legally, he was considered a real estate worker, but was actually engaged in bootlegging. During Prohibition in the United States, the entire mafia was centered around smuggling and the underground trade in alcohol. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, the Italo-American mafia was booming.
During this period favorable for criminals in the history of America, Salvatore Maranzano enjoyed great authority among the Castellamarians, who were located in all the major cities of the states. He immediately after arriving from Sicily managed to occupy a prominent place among the mafiosi of those times. His group controlled not only the smuggling of alcoholic beverages, but also gambling establishments and the sale of cigarettes.
Community Leadership
After arriving in the United States, Maranzano very quickly infiltrated the Italian mafiosi on Wednesday and soon separated from his don Vito Cassio. First of all, he received impressive support from local immigrants from his native Castellammare. Among the other members of the gangs, he was the most educated, knew how to speak beautifully, so other leaders of the groups also valued him.
Subsequently, Salvatore Maranzano became the mafia boss, drawing closer to other representatives of the Italian "families". Such prominent mafiosos as Joseph Bonanno, Joseph Profaci united with him.
Bootlegging business
The main business of all organized crime in America in those years was built on the smuggling and sale of alcohol and cigarettes. Goods were delivered from Canada, Mexico, delivered by ship at night in the harbor. Naturally, there was strong competition between the groups for the sales market. Often there were clashes between members of different gangs and shootouts with the police. Maranzano began to engage in drug trafficking and pimping, taking Joseph Bonanno as his deputy.
In the early 20s, the bosses of the Castellammares in New York were considered two authorities Gaspar Milazzo and Stefano Magaddino. However, as a result of constant conflicts with police and other gangs, they were forced to change their location by moving to Detroit and Buffalo. Since the time of their move, Nicholas Shirio, who was called by everyone in the gang as Cola Shirou, remained for the chief.
Activities of Joe Masseria
At this time, he began the struggle to establish complete power of Joe Masseria. He decided to unite the whole mafia of New York, and then the whole of America in his hands, and he simply eliminated those who did not want to obey him. It was a period of bloody clashes.
Salvatore Maranzano had his opinion on this matter. He was a very strong personality and could not allow the rule of some other boss.
Although many famous mafiosi supported the undertakings of Joe Masseria. Al Capone, Charles Luciano, Alfred Mineo, Joe Adonis, Vito Genovese and others joined in with him.
Castellamar War
The Sicilian community of Castellammare del Golfo resolutely rebuffed the actions of Masseria. It all started with the theft of trucks full of expensive liquor, which were delivered to Masseria. Then the matter took a big turn, and Salvatore and the gang went on the offensive, capturing the enemy bars one after another with weapons in their hands. All New York suffered. This terrible period of continuous bloody showdown was called the Castellamar war. Ordinary voters made a fuss in political circles, the government was forced to take some kind of active action.
The massacre
It was necessary to stop the bloodshed, from which the mafia leaders were already tired. The betrayal of one of the high officers of the Masseria gang, Charles Luciano, helped to solve the problem. He secretly came to Maranzano, and as a result of negotiations, it was decided to eliminate Masseria. The Castellammaret boss promised to end the war in return.
Since Luciano (you can see his photo above) was a close ally of Masseria, then there was no problem killing him. He made reprisal against his boss during dinner at the Nuova Villa Tammaro restaurant, located on Coney Island.
Boss boss
Salvatore Maranzano achieved his cherished dream. He became the most important in New York. The most powerful mafia began to dictate his own rules and try to organize crime in the city under his command. He divided the city into five separate regions and appointed leaders, the so-called chairmen. They must fully obey him and unquestioningly follow his decrees.
Maranzano also introduced new rules of mafia etiquette. It was strictly forbidden to talk about your "family" with outsiders for a common cause, even if it was a wife or mother. For violation of such a ban, the death penalty was provided.
The subordinates whispered in secret, calling him an old-fashioned don. Even Sicilian mafia leaders condemned his actions. But boss bosses did not last long, only five months. And everything happened as follows.
Revenge on rivals
Anger at the rivals who rebuffed him from Maranzano remained. He could not calm down and compiled lists of gang members sentenced to death. He called them, paying tribute to his love of ancient Rome, of scripture. Probably, in his heart he already felt himself an emperor.
The very first person on the list was Charles Luciano. Salvatore considered him a very dangerous competitor. In order to get rid of the rival, a mercenary from Ireland was nicknamed “Mad Dog”. It was Vincent Call, who demanded $ 50,000 for the murder of Luciano. It was supposed to happen on September 10, 1931. The call has already received an advance of 25 thousand.
But Luciano was warned by the allies and the first went on the offensive.
The elimination of Maranzano
On the same day, September 10, men entered the office of Maranzano, which was located on the ninth floor of the Helmsley building, posing as police officers. When everyone in the office lined up against the wall, they walked to Salvatore. He understood everything and began a desperate resistance. He was brutally killed: they both strangled him, and beat him with a knife, and even shot him six times.
Thus ended the life of America’s most influential mafia. He was buried in a cemetery in Queens next to his wife Elizabeth, who died in 1964.