15. The Lasting Impact on Organized Crime
The secret alliance between the U.S. government and the Mafia during World War II gave organized crime an unprecedented boost in legitimacy and power. Many historians believe that this collaboration helped fuel the Mafia’s postwar rise, establishing connections and influence that lingered for decades. The long-term consequences of this uneasy partnership remain controversial, with debates over whether the short-term wartime gains justified the syndicates’ enduring power.
