Communist Cuba and Escaping the Red Hand BY TYLER KRAEMER

Early Cuba located west of the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Gulf of

Mexico.

Fulgencio Batista was president of Cuba from 1940-1958

He was said to have been linked to organized crime in the country and allowing America to “step all over” Cuba when it came to materials and trade.

Fidel Castro

Born August 13, 1926

In March of 1952, a young lawyer and activist by the name of Fidel Castro decided it was time for a change in politics.

1952 Castro and around 1200 unhappy citizens were ready to attack.

26th of July Movement

On July 26 “ 26th of July movement” Castro and his group were dismantled while attacking the Moncado barracks,

He on top of many others would go to prison

Some having to serve 15 years only to be let out early by Batista when he decided to release most political prisoners due to pressure by politicians of Cuba.

Fidel’s Army

Fidel and his brother Raul would later reunite in Mexico and train under Alberto Bayo who had help fight in the Spanish civil war.

In June of 1955 Fidel would meet an Argentina man of the name Ernesto “Che” Guevara who would be play a pivotal role in the revolution.

Guerilla Warfare

Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare in which a small group of combatants such as armed civilians or irregulars use military tactics including ambushes, sabotage, raids, petty warfare, hit-and-run tactics, and mobility to fight a larger and less-mobile traditional military.

This is how all of the fighting would go in Cuba

Attack dates

There were multiple attacks by the way of guerilla warfare

March of 1957

March of 1958

July of 1958

December of 1958 Battle of Santa Clara

January of 1958 City of Cienfuegos

The capturing of the city of Cienfuegos led ultimately to Castro’s takeover.

Castro arrives

After the siege in January 2 of 1959 Castro later arrived in the capital.

In 1959 Castro would visit the U.S. stating "I know what the world thinks of us, we are Communists, and of course I have said very clearly that we are not Communists; very clearly.“

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=castro+stating+he+is+not+communist&FORM=HDRSC3#view=detail&mid=99F7CB227F9C601295DC99F7CB227F9C601295DC

Bay of Pigs

In April 17-19 of 1961

The CIA train an anti-revolutionary military attempting to take down the Castro regime

The 15th include air raids on Cuban airports

16th also known as the “phony war” failed a dividing Castro’s military at Baracoa planned to land U.S. troops at the Bay

17th where troops landed and fought at the Bay of pigs

Final surrender came on April 20th

Cuban army:176 killed500+ wounded

U.S. Army: 118 killed360 wounded1,202 captured

Cuba turns Communism In July 1961, the Integrated Revolutionary

Organizations (IRO) was formed by merging Castro’s 26th of July Movement

Blas Roca would lead the peoples socialist party

On 26 March 1962, the IRO would become the United Party of the Cuban Socialist Revolution

The Communist Party of Cuba had arrived officially on 3 October 1965, Castro would be named First Secretary

This struck a fear into the people who began to want out

Ways to get out “Freedom Flights” which allowed over 250,000

Cubans to escape with their family fleeing to countries such as the U.S., Spain, Mexico, Italy, and even Canada From 1965-1973

Mariel boat lifts between April 15th and October 30th of 1980 where over 125,000 Cubans would reach the U.S. within weeks despite our coast Guard

Operation Peter Pan November of 1960 lasting till around October of 1962 was a series of flights where parents would drop off their children at the airports and send their children alone to the U.S. for a brighter future. Most of them would never see their parents again. Over 14,000 children would escape on the flight

Eventually terms between the U.S. ad Cuba would be reached and normal immigration could resume.

Today many people still defect from the Country of Cuba, some fit right in others become huge contributors to this society

Obama recently has been in talks to try to open Cuba up for tourists and more, but the fact of the matter is that the people will not benefit from this, all the money made will go to the government and nothing will be done to help these people