GUERRIGLIA
From November 1956
to the end of 1957
Everything began on 25th November 1956. The guerilla fighters left the port of Tuxpan (Mexico) for Cuba aboard the Granma yacht. The expedition consisted in 82 men, who reached the eastern coast of Cuba on 2nd December, landing on the Las Coloradas beach. According to Che, “We were attacked by the enemy air force […]. We continued on dry land, lost, tripping continuously. We were an army of shadows.” The rebel fighters were ambushed by troops loyal to the dictator in Alegría de Pío and most were killed. “Che” (a nickname the Cubans had given him in Mexico) was grazed in his “first baptism of fire”. On 21st December, in the middle of the Sierra Maestra, 15 men were reunited with Fidel – they were the creators of the Rebel Army. In 1957 the first fights involving Che began, including the attack on the La Plata Barracks and the battle of Uvero. A second column was organized in June and Guevara was made its commander. In July Fidel appointed him the first commander of the rebel forces. He published the El Cubano Libre [the Free Cuban] paper.
From December 1958
to 1st January 1959
The rebels’ behavior led civilians – peasants in particular – to support them. Unlike the army, the barbudos did not sack, rape or ill-treat the population. On the contrary, they paid for their provisions and any other goods their cause needed. They looked after the peasants and taught them to read and write. The Radio Rebelde was established in February 1958 – the echo of the guerilla was heard throughout the country. In May the enemy launched a military offensive against the Rebel Army. It failed, marking the start of the counteroffensive with the battle of Jigüe in July. In August, Fidel ordered his two most battle-hardened commanders, Camilo Cienfuegos and Che Guevara, to invade from the west. Camilo was ordered to reach Pinar del Río with his column, while Che headed for the center of the country, in the province of Las Villas, with the aim of uniting the rebel forces. In October, column 8, led by Che, reached the Escambray Mountains and in December it proceeded with the Las Villas offensive. This action reached its peak with the historical battle of Santa Clara (the province’s capital) and the fighting continued until 1st January 1959.
and then