Operation Underworld: How the Mafia and U.S. Government Teamed Up to Win World War II by Matthew Black

"Operation Underworld" recounts the extraordinary collaboration between the U.S. government and the Mafia during World War II, specifically focusing on the involvement of Charles "Lucky" Luciano. At the height of the war in 1942, fears of sabotage in New York Harbor led U.S. Naval Intelligence to recruit members of La Cosa Nostra as allies against Axis powers, particularly in securing the invasion of Sicily in 1943.

Commander Charles Radcliffe Haffenden spearheaded this unconventional strategy, recognizing that the Mafia's influence over New York's docks could be pivotal in ensuring the safety of vital shipping lanes and thwarting enemy espionage. Despite Luciano's incarceration, his significant power and connections were leveraged by the government. Luciano agreed to cooperate in exchange for assistance with his legal situation and the opportunity to use his contacts in Italy to gather intelligence on Nazi movements.

The collaboration, although morally complex and controversial, proved effective in enhancing Allied efforts. It united unlikely allies from opposite sides of the law in a shared goal against a common enemy. "Operation Underworld" underscores the pragmatic, often unconventional measures taken during wartime, highlighting the intersection of espionage, crime, and patriotism in a pivotal chapter of World War II history.