Mussolini visited Sicily in 1924, two years after he took power. One of the local Mafia Dons, Francesco Cuccia, told Mussolini that he should dismiss his police escort because he was under Cuccia's protection. Mussolini angrily rejected Cuccia's suggestion. The following day, no one showed up to hear a speech he was planning to give. This prompted Mussolini to declare war on the Sicilian Mafia. One of his brutal henchmen, Cesare Mori, was put in charge. Mori arrested more than 11k Sicilians (few of them actual Mafiosi), killing, imprisoning, torturing and confiscating property, almost randomly. He drove the Mafia underground.
After the Allied invasion of Sicily in 1943, Genovese, who'd been tight with Mussolini, switched sides, moved to the island and made himself useful to US forces as a translator, guide and general go-between. He convinced them that the Mafiosi in hiding or in prison were "Italian patriots," and many were restored to their former positions and property. Don Vitone was handsomely rewarded.