Day of Liberation of Cuba
Description:
A history tour:
1952 March 10.
The history of Cuba begins on March 10, 1952, when the commander-in-chief of Batista’s army handed a note to President Prio Socarras early in the morning: “It’s over with you!” I am the government! This was the beginning of his rule, which was marked by a ruthless dictatorship.
The dictator immediately began to act decisively: he terminated the constitution, dissolved Congress, severed diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union, canceled the presidential elections scheduled for June of the same year, in which, according to all forecasts, the opposition was supposed to win.
1953 July 25.
Batista's actions were not shared by most Cubans, especially the radical youth, led by 25-year-old lawyer Fidel Castro. In his struggle against the dictatorial regime, he was inflexible.
About a year was preparing for the first assault. On July 25, 1953, 165 patriots stormed the Moncada military barracks in an attempt to seize weapons. But the forces were unequal: the government troops, 15 times larger in size, managed to capture many of them. Many of the participants in the assault were killed, Fidel Castro was given 15 years, his brother, Raul - 13 years.
1955 May 12th.
Batista combined the policy of repression with the policy of social demagoguery. He saw no danger to his regime in what he called an "improvised revolution of green youth." In May 1955, as a sign that he listened to the voice of the people, he signed a law granting amnesty to prisoners. On May 12, 1955, inmate No. 4914, Fidel Castro, on his way out of prison, told reporters in newspapers, radio and television: “For the freedom we have been granted, we will not give up one atom of our honor.”
1956 November 25th.
The liberated rebels settled in Mexico, where they began preparing a new rebellion. The 26th of July Movement was formed and trained its soldiers throughout the country.
The rebels bought a relatively small pleasure yacht "Granma". On November 25, 1956, at 2 a.m., this overloaded ship sailed from the Mexican port of Tuspan to the shores of Cuba. On board it were 82 people (among whom the Argentine doctor Ernesto Che Guevara, who later became famous), 90 rifles, 3 assault rifles and 2 anti-tank machine guns.
Only 22 revolutionaries, among them Fidel Castro and Che Guevara, reached the designated place - abandoned in the mountains of the estate of Cresencio Perez. Batista said everyone was killed.
1957-1959.
However, gradually Cuba learned the truth about the Blood Mountains and their heroes. Castro’s popularity grew rapidly. The local population provided the surviving detachment with great assistance, supplying food, informing about the movement of government troops in the mountains, allocating guides to patriots.
The struggle of the rebels gradually turned into the struggle of the whole people against the military-police regime. The 26 July Movement became a national patriotic organization that included both unemployed and large owners.
On December 31, 1959, the dictator hosted a New Year’s reception. “Were crazy glasses,” recalls an eyewitness. Batista was theatrical until the last minute. He closed the New Year’s ceremony in his usual manner with the words, “Hello!” Hey! Then he looked intently at General Eulogio Cantillo, who had just been appointed commander-in-chief of the army. The general was soldierly brief: “Mr. President, we, the commander and officers of the army, believe that your abdication will contribute to the establishment of peace, which is so necessary for the country. We appeal to your patriotism.”
On the night of January 1, Batista fled. A whole line of cars headed to the heavily guarded military airfield, where the dictator and his associates were waiting for four planes.
Speaking at a million-strong rally, Fidel Castro said the triumph of the revolution did not mean an immediate solution to all of Cuba's problems, nor that "each of us will now have a palace and in the future life will be for us only an easy walk." “On January 1, we have only won the right to begin!”
On this day, Fidel Castro traditionally addresses the people. The holiday is celebrated with music, parades and other cultural events. The history of the revolution can be traced in the Museum of the Revolution, where documentaries are shown, authentic documents are presented, and the weapons of the revolutionaries are shown. In the garden of the museum is the ship "Granma", which took the rebels to the rebel island in 1956.