Inside The Mafia Civil War That Changed America Forever: The Castellammarese War

Video Description

The Castellammarese War was one of the bloodiest and most pivotal conflicts in the history of organized crime. Between 1929 and 1931, New York City’s underworld was torn apart by a brutal struggle between two Sicilian-born bosses — Joe “The Boss” Masseria and Salvatore Maranzano. What began as a quiet rivalry for influence soon erupted into open warfare, leaving bodies scattered across Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx as America’s Mafia families turned on each other. At the heart of this conflict was a generational divide — between the old-world traditions of Sicily and the new breed of Americanized gangsters who saw crime as a business. Figures like Lucky Luciano, Vito Genovese, Meyer Lansky, and Frank Costello navigated the chaos with ruthless precision, betraying their mentors and reshaping the underworld in their own image. Out of the ashes of the war came a new order — The Commission — a governing body that would define the American Mafia for decades to come. This is the story of betrayal and ambition, of loyalty and reinvention — and of how a war fought in the shadows of Prohibition gave birth to the modern mob. The fall of Joe the Boss, the rise of Lucky Luciano, and the birth of organized crime as we know it. If you enjoy deep dives into true crime history, make sure to subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss a documentary. All music in this video is licensed through Epidemic Sound ⚠️ Copyright Disclaimer: Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. All video clips, images, and audio used in this documentary are for educational and historical purposes only. No copyright infringement is intended.