Allow me to share a brief tale about my hometown in Sicily, which involves an encounter with an infamous figure named Mussolini. Now, before we proceed, it’s important to note that Mussolini, regarded as one of history’s worst dictators, did something that some may consider beneficial, albeit with a subjective interpretation of “good.”
Initially, my hometown faced the presence of an unlawful, corrupt, and violent gang known as the Mafia. However, under Mussolini’s rule, this illegal organization was replaced by a legal, corrupt, and violent group of fascists. Whether this change can be considered positive depends on one’s definition of “good.”
To fully grasp the situation, we must delve into the origins of the Mafia and how it came to be. Originally, it was far from an international criminal network infamous for its brutal acts, including the infamous practice of equine decapitation. Instead, it started as a gathering of peasants in nineteenth-century Sicily.
Following Italian unification, Sicily lacked a significant rule of law, leading to the ruthless exploitation of peasants by local elites. Many Sicilians resorted to banditry as a means of survival due to the absence of reliable authorities. In response, the elites hired other bandits, known as “companies-at-arms,” to safeguard their property and apprehend the thieves.
However, these companies were often comprised of friends or even relatives of the original bandits, and they worked for various landowners. Consequently, betrayal, treachery, revenge, and double-dealing became rampant, leading to a complex web of relationships. Yet, one thing remained clear—the landowners held the power and wealth.
These “companies” eventually evolved into local protection rackets, simultaneously keeping the bandits at bay and colluding with them to extract money and influence from the elites. This intricate and nefarious system encompassed counterfeiting, kidnapping, ransom, murder, robbery, witness intimidation, and an overarching sense of entitlement.
By 1885, the Sicilian dialect had coined a name for this group—Mafia—which roughly translates to swagger or bravado. Over time, they manipulated voters and developed their own parallel society, complete with secret signals, a distinct legal system, and a code of honor known as “Omerta,” which demanded silence in the face of authorities, enforced under severe consequences.
Even before Mussolini’s rise, the Italian government had attempted to curb the Mafia, but their efforts only alienated Sicily’s population. Mussolini, who assumed power in 1922, turned his attention towards Sicily. Totalitarian dictators cannot fully dictate a country without complete control, and Sicily presented a challenge.
In 1924, Mussolini paid a visit to Sicily, accompanied by soldiers, submarines, battleships, and his own police force—a necessity for any self-respecting dictator. However, the Mafioso Mayor, Don Francesco Cuccia, took offense, viewing this as a grave insult. It is said that Cuccia even told Mussolini, “What do you need all these cops for? You are under my protection. There’s nothing to be afraid of :)”
Naturally, Mussolini did not appreciate this response. He refused Cuccia’s hospitality, and in turn, Cuccia denied him an audience. Consequently, when Mussolini appeared on a balcony overlooking the central square in full regalia, he received a disappointing reception—only a handful of village idiots, beggars, and bums, carefully selected by Cuccia himself. (You’re welcome!)
Mussolini could not tolerate such disrespect. Seeking revenge, he selected the ideal man for the task—Cesare Mori, a policeman with five years of experience fighting the Mafia. Until then, Mori had primarily apprehended low
-level bandits, unable to touch the powerful Mafia Dons who, in some ways, acted as his superiors.
However, Mussolini changed the game for Mori. He provided him with a blank cheque, allowing him to disregard existing laws and create his own. Mori unleashed a relentless assault on the Mafia, engaging in a full-fledged gang war, with the state on his side. Prefectures, police stations, ministries, and mansions were not spared as Mori’s forces tore through them, determined to dismantle the Mafia’s grip on Sicily.
In 1926, Mori laid siege to Gangi, a hilltop town, encircling it with lorries and armored cars while cutting off communication lines. His men combed through the town, flushing out Mafiosi from their hideouts. The town square witnessed the slaughter of cattle, while wives and children were taken hostage. A town crier roamed the streets, urging the Mafiosi to surrender.
And when they did surrender, the Mafiosi faced a peculiar Italian form of torture. They were forced to choose between consuming castor oil or eating live frogs—a choice between two equally unpleasant options. After ten days, Mori triumphantly entered Gangi as a liberator, accompanied by bands, banners, and the iconic balcony speech. His success garnered praise from Il Duce himself.
The fascist fandango continued with three more sieges across Sicily, resulting in the arrest of 150 more Mafiosi and their accomplices. But Mori’s crackdown didn’t stop there. By the time he was recalled to the mainland in 1929, he had apprehended a staggering 11,000 people in Sicily, many of whom were likely innocent of any crime. However, as they say, innocence is a relative term.
Some speculate that Mori’s recall was due to the overwhelming amount of paperwork his arrests generated, keeping the bureaucracy occupied for years to come. Regardless, Mori had fulfilled his mission. The Mafia appeared to be broken, or at least that was the narrative propagated by Mussolini.
Sicilian crimes faded from the headlines, and the show trials ceased. It was much simpler to make the accused disappear, along with the burdensome paperwork. However, Mori’s campaign did little to address the deep-rooted societal issues that gave rise to the Mafia in the first place. In essence, he merely planted the seeds for a future resurgence.
While Mori managed to apprehend numerous Mafiosi, many others sought refuge in America, where the local branch of the Mafia swiftly transformed into an international hub. Mussolini, Mori, and the Fascist government, in their attempt to suppress the Mafia in Sicily, inadvertently shifted the problem elsewhere.
Ultimately, when the Fascist regime eventually crumbled, the Mafia emerged from the shadows, reclaiming its control over Sicily—perhaps even more firmly than before. This, unfortunately, was the bittersweet conclusion to this story.
So, with a mix of triumph and tragedy, the tale of my hometown and its encounter with Mussolini and the Mafia comes to a close. I suppose it’s time to walk over the black plastic over there, just a little to the right.
Steps in History 
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