1. The Formation of Operation Underworld
In 1942, the Office of Naval Intelligence recognized the Mafia’s control over New York’s bustling waterfront. Fearing Axis sabotage in critical shipyards and ports, officials quietly launched Operation Underworld. This secret initiative brought Mafia leaders into a unique collaboration with federal agents, leveraging their street-level intelligence and iron grip on dockside operations. Operation Underworld marked the beginning of a clandestine war, fought not with armies, but with information and influence in the shadows.
