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Period: to
Battles of the Cuban Revolution
1952 - 1959 -
Batista's Coup d'etat
In a return to the Era of Gangsterism, the very thing Fulgencio Batista defeated in the 1930s, he commits the most retrograde action in Cuban History - one marked by great unrest already. It is the single event that launches Cuba into ten years of violent revolution. For more: http://cuba1952-1959.blogspot.com/search?q=batista+coup -
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Timeline for La Revolución
From Batista's Coup d'état, 10 March 1952 - Castro's Liberty Caravan, 8 January 1959 -
Moncada Army Barracks Attacked in Santiago de Cuba
Fidel Castro leads an attack at the Moncada Barracks in Santiago, capital of Oriente Province. From the seventy men and women who assault the barracks, fifty-six were tortured, executed and then strewn on the barrack squares, made to look like they were killed in the attack.
More: http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/moncada.htm -
Goicuria Barracks Attacked, Matanzas Province
An attack on the army barracks at Goicuria, in the center of the city of Matanzas, capital of the province bearing the same name. A group of independent rebels led by Reynol Gracia results in 10 rebels and 3 soldiers killed. It is a purpose-less copy-cat attack of Moncada's, the expression of an indignant People, but with of no tactical importance to speak of. For more: http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/goicuria-garrison.htm -
Granma Embarks for Oriente Province, Cuba
Eighty self-styled "26 July Movement" Rebels launch from Tupac, Mexico for Oriente Province to land in a cove nearest to the city of Santiago de Cuba. This was to support Frank Paíz's Urban Guerillas in their plan to wrest control of the city from the Batistianos. Several attacks in the city occurring simultaneously. It was the first, well-planned and coordinated attack of the revolution.
More: https://tinyurl.com/3h6t6ms3 -
The Granma Makes Landfall & the 26 July Movement Disembarks
Fidel, Raul, Ché and Cienfuegos, along with 76 other rebels aboard The Granma, disembark at "Playa Las Coloradas" in the municipality of Niquero, Oriente Province - 5 days late and over 200km away from Santiago where Frank País' uprising was over. More on landing: http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/cuban-rebels/granma-crespo.htm -
26 July Movement Set Up Base Camp After Nearly Destroyed
Three days after making landfall Castro's rest after an arduous march with no rest and little sleep. Near a hamlet called Alegria del Pio thousands of soldiers & civil guards lie in wait and ambush the troop. Cuban Airforce fighters strafe what's left of the rebel column. Of the 82 men aboard the Granma, 16 survive with two wounded-including Ché. They realize they must ascend the Sierra's Heights, set up camp or die in its valleys.
More here: https://rb.gy/xple48 -
Attack on the Presidential Palace
A well-armed assault on the Presidential Palace to assassinate Batista with fifty Revolutionary Students Directorate led by José Echevarria, Carlos Menoyo, and Faure Chaumont. Thirty student attackers killed and six arrested. For more:
http://cuba1952-1959.blogspot.com/search?q=palace
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The Escambray Guerrilla Movement is Founded
A splinter group of the Directorio Estudantil (Revolutionary Students Directorate) composed of those whom survived the assault on the Presidential Palace and other more aggressive "Directorios" peal off for the other mountain range in Cuba, the Escambray cordon S.E. of Havana. Thus is the "Second Front of Escambray" founded with 5000 men by 1958.
More on the Escambray rebellion:
http://cuba1952-1959.blogspot.com/search?q=escambray) -
"The Corynthia" and The 'Autenticos' Expedition
The Miami registered "Corynthia," lands at "La Llanita Beach, N. Oriente." Cuban Ex-President and Autentico Party Leader Prio Socarras, featured above. Miami supporters would resuscitate their political relevance by landing 25 poorly trained men to offset Castro's movement. At disembarking, they were surrounded. Batista's soldiers summarily executed sixteen and sent the rest for trial in Santiago.
More: http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/calixto-sanchez-10.htm -
Cienfuego Naval Base Mutiny
Cuban Navy Mutiny in favor of the Revolution supporting 26 July Movement, Escambray, and Urban Guerillas in taking Cienfuegos, Las Villas Province. Pictured is an aerial view of Cienfuegos Naval Station. For More: https://tinyurl.com/9sstb5jy -
The Two Eastern Fronts in Oriente
By order of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro on February 27, 1958 Majors Juan Almeida (featured above) and Raul Castro are both promoted and given a column of men to defend the right flank of the 26 July Movement from a coming enemy offensive. Comandante Raul Castro posted NNE of the rebel stronghold to the south inside the Serria Maestra, Comandante Almeida to the NE. More: https://tinyurl.com/thzz4a64 -
Pinar del Rio Front is Organized
At a township called "La Palma" in Pinar del Rio Province, at the western stretch of Cuba, Comandante Dermidio Escalona Alonso, under direct orders from Fidel Castro via shortwave radio, is to hold firm against any government retreat from Cienfuego's and Ché's onslaught.
More: https://tinyurl.com/2s6ursr5 -
Ché's and Camilo's Invasion of the Western half of Cuba
Majors Camilo Cienfuegos and Ernest "Ché" Guevara promoted to the ranks "Comandante." Fidel orders two columns west led respectively by the latter two men to liberate the center of the island. Both men gird the southern belly of Cuba, then Camilo veers north, while Ché to the center.
Great Article here: https://tinyurl.com/4v5e8hzu -
Caravana de la Libertad
At the end of hostilities, after Batista had fled on 31 December 1958, Fidel was at his base camp in the Sierra Maestra, Oriente. What followed became known as his "Liberty Caravan" where he and his column traversed the entire island, stopping at the major battle sites in every province. NY Times: https://tinyurl.com/5p8mftew & Granma: https://tinyurl.com/47h5xmr9
