Joe Masseria

VS. 1928-31

Salvatore Maranzano

Giuseppe"Joe the Boss" Masseria, one of the original members of the New York Mafia, retained his criminal dealings inside his local neighborhood. He took hold of his iron clad Sicilian ways of "honor" and "respect", and loathed the younger generation of mobsters who urged him to form alliances with other gangs such as Irish and Jewish gangs threatening to take over the rackets.

In 1928, Joe Masseria focused his attention on the threat posed by Brooklyn gangster Salvatore Maranzano. As Maranzano's operations grew, so the did realizitation that Masseria would have a war on his hands for control of New York.

Masseria's side was packed with "Young Turks" just waiting for their chance to get at the rackets of Masseria and Maranzano. Guys like Charles Luciano, Frank Costello, Albert Anastasia, Joe Adonis, Vito Genovese, Carlo Gambino. Maranzano also had his pockets stuff with guys like, Joseph Bonanno, Joe Profaci, Thomas Lucchese, Joe Magliocco, and Thomas Gagliano.

The Castellamarese War dragged on without a victory for either side, and certain gangsters like a certain "Young Turk" named Charles Luciano, decided to press for a peace agreement. All in the meanwhile Luciano plotted with the help of Thomas Lucchese to get rid od Masseria and his old world traditions.

The assassination was carried out at a Coney Island restuarant by Genovese, Adonis, Benjamin Siegel, and Albert Anastasia. After eating a while, they played cards and at a specific time Luciano removed himself to walk to the mensroom. As Luciano walked into the mensroom all four killers walked in and blasted Masseria with gun blasts. When police arrived on the scene, Luciano disclaimed any involvment.

A peace was proclaimed with Maranzano, and so he was named absolute ruler. Capo de tutti Capi. Maranzano realized that Luciano and his counterparts had a similar fate in mind for him, and agreesively plannedto eliminate Luciano, Genovese, Costello, Adonis, Dutch Shultz, and even Al Capone. Luciano anticipated Maranzano's strategy, and, with the help of his good friend Meyer Lansky, hired four gunmen to pay a call to Maranzano.

The Castellammarese War ended with Maranzano's assassination. The days of the Old Mafia traditions had been washed away by the blood of the two dead "Dons". In it's place stood the modern crime syndicate, dominated by Italians but encompasses other ethnic groups today.

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