Part 7/10:
In the wake of World War II, Sicily became a pivotal player in both regional and international operations. The Allied invasion of 1943 marked a turning point, with mafia leaders like Lucky Luciano providing critical intelligence to the American forces. As reconstruction funds flowed into Sicily under the Marshall Plan, the mafia found new avenues for wealth through extortion and corruption within the blossoming construction industry.
At this stage, the mafia’s reach extended into legitimate businesses, burying deeper roots in the fabric of Italian society. This period also signaled a shift in their operations, as they expanded their territory and influence across the Atlantic to the United States, further linking the Sicilian Cosa Nostra to the American Mafia.