Page 55 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba
P. 55
THE HIST OR Y OF CUBA 53
Fidel Castro entered Havana on 8 January 1959 and
on 16 February was elected prime minister. At the time
the president was Manuel Urrutia, elected after Batista’s
Young women, including Haydée escape. The revolutionary government immediately
Santamaría, Celia Sánchez and Vilma abolished racial discrimination and reduced rents
Espín, participated actively in the and the cost of electricity.
revolutionary war. After Havana
was captured, they were entrusted
with guarding strategic points.
0 kilometres 75
0 miles 75
Santa Clara
On the Sierra Maestra, Cuba’s
largest mountain range, the
Camagüey rebels organized guerrilla warfare,
recruiting soldiers from among
the population (above, Fidel
Holguín Castro recruiting farmers).
The strategy was to
ambush Batista’s
Playa Las Coloradas was Bayamo Santiago troops and take
where the Granma landed de Cuba their supplies
on 2 December 1956. Guantánamo and weapons.
The attack at La Plata, In the Sierra Maestra Fidel Castro,
a military barracks, was Che Guevara and the other survivors At Santiago de Cuba
the rebels’ first success of the Granma worked out a strategy of the rebel movement won
(17 January 1957). guerrilla warfare with a growing number an important victory on
of barbudos, students, army deserters and 17 January 1957.
reinforcements sent by the urban branch
of the Movimiento 26 de Julio.
October 1953 Fidel 30 November 31 August Che and 1 January Che
Castro condemned to 1956 Bloody Che Cienfuegos leave and Cienfuegos
15 years’ imprisonment repression of Guevara east to conquer enter Havana;
in Presidio Modelo revolt at Santiago central regions Castro, Santiago
1953 1956 1958 1959
26 July 1953 15 May 1955 2 December 24 February Radio
Attack on Fidel Castro 1956 Landing Rebelde set up
Moncada freed, goes of Granma 31 December 8 January Castro
barracks to Mexico Santa Clara falls, enters Havana
in exile 1956–8 Guerrilla war Batista flees in triumph
Castro leaving prison in Sierra Maestra
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