The stunning true story of the rise of Nazism in America in the years
leading to WWII--and the fearless Jewish gangsters and crime families
who joined forces to fight back. With an intense cinematic style,
acclaimed nonfiction crime author Michael Benson reveals the thrilling
role of Jewish mobsters like Bugsy Siegel in stomping out the terrifying
tide of Nazi sympathizers during the 1930s and 1940s.
Goodreads Top Nonfiction of 2022
"[A] masterpiece. One of the most rivetingly relevant reads I've ever
encountered." --Jon Land, Providence Journal
As Adolph Hitler rose to power in 1930s Germany, a growing wave of
fascism began to take root on American soil. Nazi activists started to
gather in major American cities, and by 1933, there were more than
one-hundred anti-Semitic groups operating openly in the United States.
Few Americans dared to speak out or fight back--until an organized
resistance of notorious mobsters waged their own personal war against
the Nazis in their midst. Gangland-style. . . .
In this thrilling blow-by-blow account, acclaimed crime writer Michael
Benson uncovers the shocking truth about the insidious rise of Nazism in
America--and the Jewish mobsters who stomped it out. Learn about:
* Nazi Town, USA: How one Long Island community named a street
after Hitler, decorated buildings with swastikas, and set up a camp to
teach US citizens how to goosestep.
* Meyer Lansky and Murder Inc.: How a Jewish mob accountant led
fifteen goons on a joint family mission to bust heads at a Brown Shirt
rally in Manhattan.
* Fritz Kuhn, "The Vest-Pocket Hitler" How a German immigrant
spread Nazi propaganda through the American Bund in New York City--with
70 branches across the US.
* Newark Nazis vs The Minutemen: How a Jewish resistance group, led
by a prize fighter and bootlegger for the mob, waged war on the Bund in
the streets of Newark.
* Hitler in Hollywoodland: How Sunset Strip kingpin Mickey Cohen
knocked two Brown Shirters' heads together--and became the West Coast
champion in the mob's war on Nazis.
Packed with surprising, little-known facts, graphic details, and
unforgettable personalities, Gangsters vs. Nazis chronicles the mob's
most ruthless tactics in taking down fascism--inspiring ordinary
Americans to join them in their fight. The book culminates in one of the
most infamous events of the pre-war era--the 1939 Nazi rally in Madison
Square Garden--in which law-abiding citizens stood alongside hardened
criminals to fight for the soul of a nation. This is the story of the
mob that's rarely told--one of the most fascinating chapters in American
history and American organized crime.
"A must-read." --Larry Alexander, New York Times bestselling author
of Biggest Brother: The Life of Major Dick Winters, the Man Who Led the
Band of Brothers
** "A fascinating and entertaining read." --The Epoch Times**
