Patriots and Mobsters: The Alliance Between the Mafia & Government During WWII

This live class will meet over four weeks to examine the role that the Italian Mafia played in the United States during World War II.  The class will include four live video meetings, as well as one short recommended assignment to be completed at the end of the course.  

Week One will cover the rise of the Mafia, its organizational structure, the rise of Charles 'Lucky' Luciano, and the various motivations of the Mafia for assisting the US government during World War II.

Week Two will discuss the United States government's relationship with the Mafia leading up to World War II, and what drew them into cooperation with the organized crime syndicate.  
 
Week Three will look at the actions that the Mafia took to assist the United States government during World War II, with a focus on the docks of New York, and the Allied invasion of Sicily.  

Week Four of this course will examine what occurred between the government and the Mafia in the immediate post-war period.  Did the two continue to cooperate as necessary, or was the status quo of anti-Mafia sentiment restored?  

In Week Four it will be recommended that students complete a two-page double spaced writing assignment, to add to the comprehension of the class content.  

If students prefer a FLEX class, this course is also offered in that format.  Please see my other classes to find the listing for the FLEX course.