Ep 4. St. Valentine's Day Massacre

In this episode of The Making of The Mob season 2, we delve deep into the infamous St. Valentine's Day Massacre, which took place on February 14, 1929 in Chicago. The episode begins with a background on the two main players: George "Bugs" Moran, head of the North Side gang, and Al Capone, leader of the powerful Chicago Outfit.

As tensions between the two gangs reach a boiling point, we learn about their bitter rivalry and the events leading up to the massacre. On that fateful day, Moran and his men were meeting at a garage on North Clark Street, when a group of assailants disguised as police officers stormed the building and opened fire. Seven men were killed, including Moran's top enforcer, and the massacre shocked the entire country.

The episode takes us through the aftermath of the massacre, as law enforcement officials scrambled to find the culprits and bring them to justice. We see how the incident brought renewed scrutiny on Capone and the Outfit, who were suspected of orchestrating the attack. Meanwhile, Moran found himself embittered and betrayed by some of his own men, who he believed had tipped off the Outfit about the meeting.

Through interviews with historians, experts, and family members of the victims, this episode sheds light on the St. Valentine's Day Massacre like never before. We also hear from former mobsters who provide insights into the inner workings of the gangs during this era, bringing a unique perspective to the story.

The episode also examines the broader context of the era, as the prohibition of alcohol gave rise to a shadowy underworld of organized crime. With fortunes to be made and power to be gained, gangs like the North Side and the Chicago Outfit fought viciously for control of the city's illegal liquor trade.

Overall, this episode of The Making of The Mob season 2 is a riveting and heartbreaking exploration of one of the most notorious events in American mob history. From the personal stories of the victims and their families, to the broader societal forces that allowed the massacre to occur, it paints a vivid picture of a tumultuous era defined by violence and corruption.