Making History Comes Alive offers new series of gangsters in American History during the 20th Century: John Dillinger
John Dillinger, one of America’s most infamous criminals during the early 20th century, has captivated the public’s imagination for decades. Born on June 22, 1903, in Indianapolis, Indiana, Dillinger became a notorious bank robber and the face of the Great Depression-era crime wave. His life of crime, dramatic prison escapes, and eventual demise turned him into a legendary figure, embodying both the desperation and the rebellious spirit of the times.
Dillinger's early life was marked by turbulence and hardship. After his mother passed away when he was just three years old, his father remarried and moved the family to Mooresville, Indiana. Despite his father’s stern discipline, Dillinger’s rebellious nature only grew. He dropped out of school and fell into petty crime, which eventually escalated. At 21, he was arrested for his first major crime, an attempted robbery. His conviction and subsequent 10-year prison sentence were pivotal, as they exposed him to seasoned criminals who would later become his partners in more significant heists.
Upon his release in 1933, Dillinger quickly returned to a life of crime. He formed a gang that included notorious criminals like "Baby Face" Nelson and Homer Van Meter. Together, they embarked on a series of daring bank robberies across the Midwest. Dillinger's gang was known for their meticulous planning, use of advanced weaponry, and ability to evade capture, which earned them both fear and admiration from the public. During this period, Dillinger's exploits were romanticized by the media, portraying him as a modern-day Robin Hood figure, despite the violent nature of his crimes.
One of the most dramatic episodes of Dillinger’s criminal career was his escape from the Lake County Jail in Crown Point, Indiana, in 1934. After being captured and held in what was deemed an "escape-proof" facility, Dillinger managed to carve a fake gun out of wood, blackened it with shoe polish, and used it to bluff his way out. This audacious escape further cemented his legendary status and humiliated law enforcement.
However, Dillinger's notoriety made him a prime target for the newly formed Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Under the leadership of J. Edgar Hoover, the FBI intensified its efforts to capture Dillinger, dubbing him "Public Enemy No. 1."
On July 22, 1934, notorious American gangster John Dillinger was gunned down by FBI agents outside the Biograph Theater in Chicago, Illinois. Dillinger was one of the most notorious criminals of the 1930s, known for his bank robberies and daring escapes from law enforcement. His death marked the end of his criminal reign and solidified his place in American criminal history.