Italian Mafia

None, perhaps, criminal activity does not cause so much interest and sympathy, does not contain so many legends as the Italian Mafia.

Videos with the most famous mafia track (so read the post will poatmosfernee)

Mafia - the name of one of the independent organizations of the Italian criminal underworld. It specifically Italian phenomenon exact analogues in the world. There are several theories about the origin of the word "mafia". The first is that it is an acronym for the slogan of the uprising in 1282 - "Death to France! Breathe, Italy! »(Morte alla Francia Italia Anelia!).

According to the second, the word "mafia" - a legacy of the time when Sicily was Arab territory and is the notion of Arab rights, denoting protect ordinary people from lawlessness authorities. "Mafia" - only a Sicilian term. In other regions of Italy and wore similar organizations are other names ("Ndrangetta" - in Calabria, "Sacra Corona unit" - in Puglia, "the Camorra" - Naples).

According to another version in 1282, on Easter Monday, the girl was raped by a French-Sicilian soldiers. It happened on the day of her wedding. The girl's mother, mad with grief. Rushed through the streets with a bloodcurdling scream: «Ma fia! Ma fia! »(« My daughter! My daughter! "). The next day, a rebellion broke out in the country. For one evening killed thousands of rebellious French. This revolt came to be known as "The Sicilian Vespers" (it served as a signal to the ringing of bells calling worshipers to evening sermon).

The members of the Sicilian Mafia tracing their origins to medieval sect, followers of St. Francis di Paolo, founded in 1185. In the XVIII century, members of a secret society, lived in Palermo, in underground caves, praying day and night, we are told by the people, made sorties to protect the oppressed poor.



Mafia hierarchy

1. Capo di Tutti Capi (Capo di tutti capi) - "boss of bosses" - the head of all families. At the moment, you know the name of only one person who is engaged in such a position of the Sicilian Mafia - Matteo Messina Denaro.

2. Capo di Capi Re (Capo di Capi re) - literally, "King Boss of Bosses" - a title of respect awarded "boss of bosses" in retirement.

3. Capofamiglia (Kapofamiliya) - Don - the head of the family.

4. Consigliere (Consileri) - "advisers" - Consultant Don. The real power, in principle, has not, however, Don usually listens to the advice of his consigliere, and theoretically, this person can push through almost any decision.

5. Sotto Capo (Sotto Capo) - Deputy Don and formal - the second person in the family.

6. Capodecina, Caporigeme, Capo (Kapodechina, Kaporezhim, Capo) - All three of these words refer to the same post - the captain of "men of honor" of soldiers of the mafia. As a rule, subordinate Capo is from 5 to 20 "soldiers."

7. Uomini D'onore, Sgarrista, Soldato (Umino donors Sgarrista, soldiers) - "men of honor" or "soldiers" of the Mafia, the initial step in the Mafia career.

8. Picciotto (Picchiotti) - literally, "little man." This group includes people who want to become part of the Mafia, but has not yet adopted into the family.

9. Giovane D'Onore (Giovanni donor) - Boys of honor - Friends and supporters of the mafia, as a rule, not the Italian blood. In this large group consists of corrupt officials, the police, lawyers, bankers, mafia, and all those people who help a family to function.

It is important to note that Don family usually does not have anything to do with the soldiers, and very rarely communicates directly with the captains. And certainly never personally ordered the performers. And the performers (Mafia soldiers), in turn, do not know anything specific about any of the captain or the works of other "units". Thus, the money raised up, and all illegal activities remains at the lower levels of the hierarchy. This is one of the secrets of success of the mafia - to collect any evidence against Don is extremely difficult, because he was not formally involved in illegal activities. And those caught soldiers can always be replaced without affecting the family as a whole. Of course, despite the secrecy, even the soldiers know very much of what interests the police and Interpol.



Code of Honor

• The members of the mafia to help each other, no matter what the nature of that assistance.

• Any attack on a member of a mafia - a mafia encroachment on the whole.

• Mandatory submission of a higher

• Justice makes the Mafia. Judges only she adjudicates only she takes the same sentence she only.

• If someone hands over the names of the members of the Mafia, it can kill anyone, anytime. This sentence applies not only to him but to his family.

• The law of silence.

Omerta

This word is often used in connection with the Italian mafia. Omerta - a code of silence. In fact, it is a strict ban on any cooperation with law enforcement agencies, with the exception of Giovanni donor - corrupt servants of the law. Even if the party organization was wounded, he was threatened with death shall be prohibited to name his abuser. It is forbidden to solve problems with other families with the help of police. Omerta comes almost to the point of absurdity - even if the soldier imprisoned for a crime he did not commit, he is forbidden in any way would help the police find the perpetrator, even if he is an enemy of his family.

Violation of omerta involves only one punishment - death. Anyone who breaks the vow of silence, becomes a target for all families, including that of his own.

Vendetta

The principle that a person who commits murder, or any member of his family, clan, tribe, clan factions, necessarily subject to death in retaliation, not justice. Vendetta carries, respectively, any of the members of the family, clan, tribe, clan, group, to which belonged to the dead.



The most famous gangsters.

11. Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel (1906 - 1947)

Benjamin Siegel was born in 1906 in Brooklyn and soon became acquainted with Meyer Lansky. The nickname "Bugsy" he received due to its unpredictable nature. However, killing people for Charlie Luciano, he made many enemies, and in the late 30's, he was forced to flee to Los Angeles, where he became acquainted with many stars.

Shortly after the adoption of the laws on gambling in Nevada, he "borrowed" from a syndicate of millions of dollars and founded one of the first casino hotel in Las Vegas - "Flamingo". However, the business was not profitable, shortly after in 1947 it was discovered that he simply stole the money from his friends, he was killed.

Movies about it: the best actor who played Capone were Warren Beatty ("Bugsy" (1991) and Armand Assante The Marrying Man («Married Man" 1991).



10. Vincent «The Chin» Gigante (1928 - 2005)

Vincent Gigante was born in New York in 1928. He was a man with a difficult character: dropped out of school in the ninth grade, and then started boxing. Won 21 of 25 fights light heavyweight. With 17 years he was a criminal group, and in 25 years, was first arrested.

The first important thing Gigante as a member of the family Genovese (Genovese) was an attempt to murder Frank Costello (Frank Costello), but he missed. Despite this, his ascension to the Genovese family continued until he became first godfather, and in the early '80s konsolere (from Italian. Advisor).

Once was convicted mafia boss Tony Salerno (Tony Salerno), Gigante was the most important. What made Gigante so famous? Once in the late 60's, he avoided going to jail, pretending crazy, he continued to pretend to be abnormal, for example, walking through the streets of New York in a bathrobe. It is because of this fact, he got two nicknames: "Crank" and "King of pajamas." And only after a conviction for racketeering in 2003, he acknowledged that his mental health all right.

Gigante died in prison on December 19, 2005 due to heart problems. Because of this and because of his lawyers he was to be released in 2010.

The film about it: The prototype of Gigante has been used for a television movie Bonanno: A Godfather's Story («Bonanno: The Story of The Godfather," 1999), an episode of Law & Order («Law and Order»).



9. Albert Anastasia (1903 - 1957)

Albert Anastasia was born in Italy in 1903 and as a child moved to America. At 18 months, he was convicted of the murder of a longshoreman on the docks of Brooklyn (prison Sing Sing). He was released early because of the mysterious death of a witness. Fame Albert Anastasia (aka «Lord Executioner" and "Mad Hatter") was due to numerous killings, after which a gang of Joe Masseria hired him. Anastasia was very devoted to Charlie "Lucky" Luciano, so no problems betrayed Masseria - he was one of four men sent to kill him in 1931.

In 1944, he became the leader of a group of murderers that had even its name Murder, Inc. Although Albert Anastasia never prosecuted for the murder, his group had to do 400 to 700 murders. In the 50s, he became the leader of the family Luciano, but shortly after, in 1957, was killed on the orders of Carlo Gambino.

Movies about it: The hero of Albert Anastasia was the main protagonist of the film Murder, Inc. (1960), with Peter Falk and Howard Smith (Anastasia), as well as in the films The Valachi Papers («Valachchi Paper", 1972) and Lepke (1975).



8. Joseph Bonanno (1905 - 2002)

Banana Joe was born in 1905 and grew up in Sicily, at the age of 15, he was left an orphan. During the fascist regime of Mussolini, when he turned 19, he left Italy and arrived in Cuba by the United States. He soon earned the nickname "Joey Bananas" and hit the family Maranzano. Before you killed him, Luciano, Maranzano formed a "commission", which rules Mafia families in his native Italy.

Bonanno had amassed capital on the management of factories for the production of cheese, the business of tailoring and funeral business. However, his plans to eliminate the leaders of the other families was destined to fail because it was stolen, and 19 days after it was forced to retire. He has never been convicted of any serious offense.

Movies about it: Oh it was SNAT two films: Love, Honor & Obey: The Last Mafia Marriage («Love, honor and obey: Last alliance Mafia, 1993) with Ben Gazarra starring and Bonanno: A Godfather's Story (» Bonanno : The Godfather & quot ;, 1999) and Martin Landau.



7. Dutch Schultz (1902 - 1935)

Arthur Flegenheymer, later known as Dutch Schultz (Dutch Schultz) was born in 1902 in the Bronx. To impress the boss and mentor Marcel Poffo, he was still in his youth organized games Crap. In 17 years, he spent some time in prison for theft. He soon realized that the only way to make money is bootlegging (sale of alcohol during Prohibition).

Wanting to become a member to form a syndicate, he made enemies in the name of Luciano and Capone. After 1933 he was to be condemned for another crime, he went to New Jersey. In 1935, after his return he was killed by members of the group of Albert Anastasia.

Movies about him a prominent role as Dutch Schultz played by Dustin Hoffman in the movie Billy Bathgate (1991), but even better to play Tim Roth in the film Hoodlum («Hooligan», 1997). Moreover, we should recall the movie Gangster Wars («Gangserskie War", 1981), The Cotton Club («Cotton Club", 1984) and The Natural (1984).



6. John Gotti (1940 - 2002)

Among the famous gangsters of New York is particularly noteworthy John Gotti. He was born in 1940 in Brooklyn, and has always been clever. At age 16 he joined a street gang, called "Guys with Fulton Rokauey." He quickly became their leader, in the 60's gang was engaged in stealing cars and petty theft in the early '70s, he became the godfather of the group Bergin - part of the Gambino crime family. Gotti was very ambitious and soon started doing drugs, which were prohibited by the family.

As a result, Paul Castellano (Mafia boss) Gotti decided to exclude from the organization. In 1985, Gotti and his henchmen killed Castellano and Gotti headed the Gambino family. He repeatedly tried to denounce the law enforcement agencies in New York, but the charges have always failed. Due to the fact that he always looked presentable, and the media loved him, he was nicknamed "The elegant Don" and "Teflon Don". In 1992, he was finally convicted of murder in 2002 and died of cancer.

Movies about him: his character John Denilson Antonio played in the TV movie Getting Gotti («To get to Gotti", 1994) and Armand Assante in the movie Gotti («Gotti", 1996). It should be noted films Witness to the Mob («Mafia Witness", 1998) Tom Sayzmurom and The Big Heist («Big Heist", 2001).



5. Meyer Lansky (1902 - 1983)

Sachovlyansky Mayer was born in 1902 in Russia. At the age of 9 years, he moved to New York. Even when they were boys, he met Charles Luciano. Luciano wanted Lansky gave him protection money, but he refused. There was a fight, after which they became best friends. After some time, Lansky met Bugsy Segal with. Trinity became very friendly. Lansky and Siegel formed the Bug and Meyer group, which later became Murder, Inc.

First Lansky borrow money and gambling in Florida, New Orleans and Cuba. He was an investor Segal in Las Vegas casinos and even bought an offshore bank in Switzerland to launder money. He was co-founder of the National Council and the syndicate. However, the business is never a private matter, and soon he was forced to kill Bugsy Segal, because he stopped to give money to the Syndicate. While he was engaged in racketeering gambling houses around the world, not in jail Lansky and spent the day.

Movies about it: not only Richard Dreyfuss played well in the film channel HBO Lansky (1999), but Nyman Roth in the film The Godfather Part II («Godfather 2", 1974), Mark Rydell in the film Havana («Havana" 1990), Patrick Dempsey in the film Mobsters («gangsters», 1991) and Ben Kingsley in the film Bugsy (1991).



4. Frank Costello (1891 - 1973)

Francesco Castilla was born in 1891 in Italy and in the age of 4 moved to the United States. At age 13 he joined a gang and changed his name to Frank Costello. After his release in prison, he became the best friend of Charlie Luciano. Together they engaged in bootlegging and gambling. Strength Costello was that he was the link between the Mafia and politicians, especially a member of the Democratic Party of Tammany Hall in New York, which allowed him to avoid persecution.

After the arrest of Luciano Costello became a man-in-law. His feud with Vito Genovese led to the fact that in the mid-50s Genovese tried to kill Costello. Frank Costello retired peacefully and quietly died in 1973.

Movies about it: the best role played by James Andronicus in the television project in 1981 The Gangster Chronicles («Gangster Chronicles") and Costas Mandylor Mobsters («gangsters», 1991), Carmine Caridi in the film Bugsy (1991) and Jack Nicholson film The Departed («The Departed", 2006).

3. Carlo Gambino (1902 - 1976)

Carlo Gambino grew up in a family that was part of the Italian mafia clan for several centuries. Killing on request he started in 19 years. Since that time, gaining strength Mussolini Gambino immigrated to America, where he lived his cousin Paul Castellano.

After extradition Luciano in the 40s, he was replaced by Albert Anastasia. However Gambino believed that it was his time, and in 1957 ordered the murder of Anastasia. He appointed himself boss of the family and held her in an iron fist until his natural death in 1976.

Movies about it: Al Ruchcho excellently played him in the movie Boss of Bosses («boss of bosses", 2001). Yet the image of Gambino could be seen in such films as Between Love & Honor («Between Love and Honor", 1995) Gotti (1996) and Bonanno: A Godfather's Story («Bonanno: The Godfather," 1999).



2.Charli "Lucky" Luciano (1897 - 1962)

Lyuchania Salvatore was born in Sicily in 1897, and nine years later his family moved to New York. After he joined the band "Five Points". Five years his band earned, mainly on ......, Luciano controlled the racket all over Manhattan. After an unsuccessful attempt on his life in 1929, Luciano decided to create a national crime syndicate.

The rivalry was not and by 1935 "Lucky" Luciano became known as the "boss of bosses" - not only in New York but across the country. In 1936 he was sentenced to a term of 30 to 50 years, but in 1946 he was released for good behavior on the condition that he leave the country and leave for Italy. He had such a strong impact that the Second World War, the US Navy turned to him for help to land in Italy. He died in 1962 of a heart attack.

Movies about it: Christian Slater played him in "American Gangster" (1991), Bill Graham in "Bugsy" (1991) and Anthony LaPaglia in the TV movie "Lansky" (1999).



1. Al Capone (1899 - 1947)

If there was ever a gangster who earned the number one knowledge, this is Al Capone. Alphonse Capone was born in 1899 into a family of Italian immigrants Brooklyn. Through time joined the band "Five Points" and became a bouncer. It was during this time that he earned the nickname "Scarface." In 1919, he moved to Chicago and worked at Johnny Torrio, he quickly began to rise in the criminal hierarchy.