During World War II, in order to curb the enemy's sabotage on American soil, the United States took a controversial step: it cooperated with the party.
During World War II, the world was turbulent and war-torn out, and the United States, as one of its allies, was also under tremendous pressure and challenges.
In addition to facing the threat of external enemies, internal security issues also need to be closely monitored and controlled.
On February 9, 1942, the sky on the west side of Manhattan was shrouded in smoke as a shocking fire raged on the French luxury passenger liner SS Normandie, which had been converted into a World War II-era American troop carrier.
At first, the cause of the fire was attributed to an accident when a worker used an acetylene spark, however, in the face of the intensity and magnitude of the fire, many people began to wonder if it was the act of Nazi saboteurs.
In the aftermath of this disaster, the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence is plunged into heavy concerns.
They began to realize that there might be potential espionage activities around New York's harbor that could pose a serious threat to U.S. security.
Considering the activities of German spies within Duquesne's spy circle at the time, this concern was not unfounded.
Against this backdrop, an unconventional plan began to brew.
In March 1942, Naval Intelligence began a top-secret program codenamed "Operation Underground."
The goal of the project was to find a different way to combat potential espionage, and they found the leader of the Fulton Fish Market, Joseph Fulton. Socks" Lanza.
Lanza is considered a senior member of the New York Party, and he has a wealth of social resources and connections, which make him a suitable partner in the eyes of naval intelligence.
After some negotiations, Lanza agreed to assist the Office of Naval Intelligence.
He will provide union cards to those who work undercover in the market and in the coastal fishing fleet, so that they can enter the collection and surveillance work more secretly.
However, the success of this plan did not depend solely on Lanza's cooperation, but more importantly on his relationship with imprisoned party leader Charles. Luciano.
Although Luciano is already in prison, he is still an important figure within the New York Party, wielding enormous power and influence.
After some good offices, Luciano agreed to provide assistance.
He ordered his men to act as lookouts in the harbor and report any suspicious activity in a timely manner.
Even more surprisingly, he also provided a wealth of valuable information, including a map of the port, the coastline**, and the names of trusted contacts within the Sicilian** party.
This information played a crucial role in the Allied amphibious invasion of Sicily in 1943.
And the Sicilian party was willing to support it in large part because they wanted to see the regime of the Italian Benito Mussolini overthrown.
Of course, Luciano, the leader of the ** party, is not without requests, and Luciano's sentence is very long, with 20 to 40 years expected to be left at the end of World War II.
But on May 8, 1945, the same day the war in Europe ended, he submitted an administrative leniency**.
Ironically, New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey, who had sued him a decade earlier, announced Luciano's pardon in January 1946 and deported him back to Italy.
The story not only reveals some of the unconventional measures taken during the war, but also shows the complex role of the party in politics and war.
Although the final effect of Operation Underground is disputed, it did give the Allies a certain strategic advantage in the war.
* Parties, such criminal organizations, although legally regarded as enemies, have become partners in certain circumstances.
In this case, the pros and cons must be weighed to make a decision that is in the best interest of the country.