Page 56 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

54  INTRODUCING CUBA

The Heroes of the Revolution

The success of the Revolution can be partly explained by
the moral stature of the heroes who headed it, and partly
by the unity of the movement – an entire population was
determined to obtain freedom. After their triumphal
entrance into Havana, the revolutionary leaders were
entrusted with the task of realizing their objectives:
the reorganization of the country’s agriculture, afflicted
with large landed estates and monoculture; the battle
against illiteracy and unemployment; industrialization; the
construction of homes, schools and hospitals. Fidel Castro
became Prime Minister and Che Guevara was appointed Ernesto “Che” Guevara was
Minister of Industry and president of the National Bank. an Argentinian who met Castro
The Revolution continued, with its heroes and ideals. in Mexico. Unpretentious,
straightforward and ascetic,
and an uncompromising idealist,
The straw hats worn
by the barbudos were those he believed the Third World
commonly used by farmers. could be freed only through
armed rebellion (see p180).

Camilo Cienfuegos,
a commander whose courage
was legendary, was a direct,
spontaneous person with a great
sense of humour. He played a
crucial role in the armed
struggle, but took part in the
government only for a brief
period. On 28 October 1959, while
flying back from Camagüey after
arresting guerrilla commander
Hubert Matos, who had betrayed
the Revolution, Cienfuegos’ small
plane disappeared and he was
never seen again.
Horses were the most common
means of transport used by
the revolutionaries.

Frank País (seen here with his mother and
fiancée), head of the Movimiento 26 de Julio,
was entrusted with organizing a revolt in
Santiago de Cuba that would coincide with
the landing of the Granma on 30 November
1956. But because of the delay in the
landing the revolt was repressed. País died
in Santiago during the armed revolt, in an
ambush set up by the chief of police.

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