It's 1938 and fascism is on the march. In Europe, Hitler is poised to take Poland and France, launching the Second World War. In America, a variety of fifth columnist groups think that this is a swell idea, and America should let it happen, and then get rid of their own Jews. The justice system, limited by the First Amendment and widespread antisemitism, isn't going to do much. But one man has an idea. Judge Nathan Perlman makes a call to Meyer Lansky, offering a deal. Lansky and his buddies get to bust heads, Perlman will handle the legal issues as long as no one gets killed.

Welcome to Anti-Fascist Action, gangland style.


Always Be Punching Nazis.
The only linkable gif I can find has the Nazi exploding sonic style

Gangsters vs Nazis is a pulpy as hell take on true events. Meyer Lansky, one of the key figures in American organized crime, gathered up his favorite enforcers from Murder Inc and started hitting meetings of the German-American Bund. Lesser Jewish gangsters did much the same in Chicago, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Newark, and Los Angeles. Though the Nazis often had the numbers, their cadres of weekend warriors were no match for the hardened thugs, goons, and boxers that the gangsters could call upon. In a few years, it became clear that being an American Nazi was a painful business, and the dreaded fifth column came to nothing after Pearl Harbor.

The history is fascinating enough, and this book shines in cameo portraits of its various figures. But Benson badly over-eggs his story, inventing camera movements and treating this like a screenplay rather than a book. And while Nazis badly need a fist to the face, the gangsters are portrayed uncritically as heroes, when they were also murderers and thugs.

If I were to read one book on the subject, it'd be Hitler in Los Angeles, which is a more interesting take, though one with less punching.