{"product_id":"gangsters-vs-nazis-isbn-9780806541792","title":"Gangsters vs. Nazis","description":"\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Goodreads Top Nonfiction of 2022\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“[A] masterpiece. One of the most rivetingly relevant reads I’ve ever encountered.” —Jon Land, \u003ci\u003eProvidence Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs 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. . . .\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn 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:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e* Nazi Town, USA:\u003c\/b\u003e 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e* Meyer Lansky and Murder Inc.:\u003c\/b\u003e How a Jewish mob accountant led fifteen goons on a joint family mission to bust heads at a Brown Shirt rally in Manhattan.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e* Fritz Kuhn, “The Vest-Pocket Hitler”: \u003c\/b\u003eHow a German immigrant spread Nazi propaganda through the American Bund in New York City—with 70 branches across the US.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e* Newark Nazis vs The Minutemen:\u003c\/b\u003e 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e* Hitler in Hollywoodland:\u003c\/b\u003e 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePacked with surprising, little-known facts, graphic details, and unforgettable personalities, \u003ci\u003eGangsters vs. Nazis\u003c\/i\u003e 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. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e “A must-read.” —Larry Alexander, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eBiggest Brother: The Life of Major Dick Winters, the Man Who Led the Band of Brothers\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e “A fascinating and entertaining read.” —\u003ci\u003eThe Epoch Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for GANGSTERS VS NAZIS:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“As criminologists the world over have shown, when government institutions fail to provide the people, or a sizable segment thereof, with the goods and services they desire, collateral institutions, some illegal, will. Michael Benson, a renowned organized crime writer in his own right, suggests this constant was alive and well in the 1930s. …\u003ci\u003eGangsters vs. Nazis\u003c\/i\u003e is quite worthy of exploration and attribution.” \u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eCriminal Law and Criminal Justice Books\u003c\/i\u003e, Rutgers University Law School\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “Enlightening and colorful…Jewish boxing fans will find a lot of riveting stories in \u003ci\u003eGangsters vs Nazis\u003c\/i\u003e told in an extremely entertaining manner. Those who enjoy reading about the mob or find catharsis in the bloodying of Nazis will thoroughly enjoy Michael Benson's work. This is highly recommended reading.”  —\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eJewish Boxing\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Michael Benson’s nonfiction masterpiece \u003ci\u003eGangsters vs. Nazis\u003c\/i\u003e reads like speculative fiction at its very best, even though the incidents the book portrays are very much real…One of the most rivetingly relevant reads I’ve ever encountered, chock-full of real-life heroes and villains who are every bit the match for the best that thriller fiction has to offer.” —\u003cb\u003eJon Land\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Providence Journal\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e“It is a colorful tale. It reads in many places like a mid-20th century Jimmy Cagney movie or Mickey Spillane novel come to life. It occurs in the same settings and the author uses the Runyonesque language of the genre. The mobsters deal out knuckle sandwiches and whack foes on the noggin. At one point Benson urges readers to think of one team as “The \u003ci\u003eDirty Dozen\u003c\/i\u003e with some Yiddish thrown in.” \u003ci\u003e—\u003cb\u003eRicochet\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e“Benson tells this little-known chapter of American Jewish history well and with passion.  The prose is colorful and direct.” —\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eNew York Journal of Books\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Told in a colorful, Runyonesque style, the tale is about one of the strangest campaigns of the late 1930s. It shows how the Jewish American community organized to fight the German American Bund and other fascist groups in the United States in the years prior to America’s entry into World War II. To break up Nazi rallies and bust heads, the community enlisted Jewish gangsters, the author claims—not “good guys” protecting the American way. This is a fascinating and entertaining read.” \u003ci\u003e—\u003cb\u003eThe Epoch Times\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“From indoctrinating youth camps to jack-booted rallies promoting Adolf Hitler, pre-World War II America was threatened by the rise of Nazism. \u003ci\u003eGangsters vs. Nazis\u003c\/i\u003e is a must-read, eye-opening account that brings to life the violent struggle between these home-brewed storm troopers and an army of unlikely patriots; gangs of fist-swinging Jewish mobsters willing to break bones and crack heads in order to turn back the Nazi menace.” —\u003cb\u003eLarry Alexander\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eBiggest Brother: The Life of Major Dick Winters, the Man Who Led the Band of Brothers\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Benson is a master of true crime.” —\u003cb\u003eRobert Scott\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eMichael Benson\u003c\/b\u003e is the acclaimed author of nonfiction history and crime books, including \u003ci\u003eGangsters vs. Nazis\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eHollywood vs. Nazis\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eEvil Season\u003c\/i\u003e, and\u003ci\u003e Betrayal in Blood\u003c\/i\u003e, as well as \u003ci\u003eMoguls\u003c\/i\u003e, co-authored with Craig Singer. He is also one of America’s most accomplished and popular Mafia experts, having co-authored numerous books on the subject, including \u003ci\u003eCarmine the Snake\u003c\/i\u003e,\u003ci\u003e Mafia Hit Man\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eLord High Executioner\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eRed Hook\u003c\/i\u003e,\u003ci\u003e Carlo Gambino\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eOlive Oil King \u003c\/i\u003ewith Frank DiMatteo and \u003ci\u003eMafia Secrets \u003c\/i\u003ewith Gianni Russo\u003ci\u003e. \u003c\/i\u003eHe is a regular commentator, appearing on numerous radio and television shows such as \u003ci\u003e20\/20\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eOn the Case with Paula Zahn\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eDeadly Sins \u003c\/i\u003eon the ID: Investigation Discovery channel. A recipient of the Academy of American Poets Award, he can be found on Facebook at \/AuthorMichaelBenson.","brand":"Citadel","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46303672205541,"sku":"NP9780806541792","price":27.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780806541792.jpg?v=1767727862","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/gangsters-vs-nazis-isbn-9780806541792","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}