Cuban Revolution Essay

“Analyze the reasons for and effectiveness of guerrilla tactics in the Cuban Revolution”

By Elika Somani

Malcolm X, an African-American voice for change, one said that “It takes heart to be a guerrilla warrior because you’re on your own. In conventional warfare you have tanks and a whole lot of other people with you to back you up—planes over your head and all that kind of stuff. But a guerrilla is on his own. All you have is a rifle, some sneakers and a bowl of rice, and that’s all you need — and a lot of heart” (Malcolm X). Heart is exactly what the Cuban revolutionists of the 26th July Movement, including prominent Cuban historical figures such as Fidel Castro and Che Guevara, had. The 26th July Movement, led by Fidel Castro, overthrew

When Fidel Castro was exiled from Cuba after a failed attack on the Moncada barracks, his actions and memorable speech History Will Absolve Me started the 26th of July Movement that Castro would eventually come back to with a new strategic plan, one that would win him the war this time. While in Mexico, the breeding grounds for attempted revolutionaries, Castro met a team of other fighters who supported his attempt, but most crucial was Che Guevara. Ernesto “Che” Guevara was a Argentinian revolutionary specialised in Guerrilla War. His importance to the revolution’s success was paramount. Castro relied on the skills and knowledge of of his comrades as fellow revolutionaries with far more experience than him. Doing so, he exploited Che’s knowledge of guerrilla fighting, and by working together as a team, Che and Guevara created a new plan that successfully used guerrilla warfare to their advantage, and on the 25th of November, 1956, lead a group of 82 supporters of the movement back to Cuba. Castro relied on guerrilla warfare because of the conditions in which the war was subject to. Coming into Cuba, Castro had little active

In the situation Castro was in, his resources of other comrades like Guevara and his knowledge of Cuba and the Cuban people were evident in his successful entry and acceptance in Cuba as a revolutionary. Furthermore, Batista’s frantic, brutal retaliation against the people of his own country paved the way toward his downfall by losing civilian and international support, that all eventually ended up in Castro’s hands. In taking the country in 2 years time, Castro has been one of the most successful revolutionaries in history and is a prime example of the effects of guerrilla warfare when integrated properly with the desires of the society that is being undertaken. Castro stated in History Will Absolve Me “They [Batista's military dictatorship] have tried to establish the myth that modern arms render the people helpless to overthrow tyrants” (Castro), he claims of the power a group of people with a common goal have, even in an unlikely situation, and he went on 5 years later to confirm this with the success of the 26th of July Movement.

Works Cited

Castro, Fidel. "History Will Absolve Me." (1964): n. pag. Web. 17 Sept. 2016.

"Malcolm X." AZQuotes.com. Wind and Fly LTD, 2016. 15 September 2016.

Matthews, Herbert L. "Cuban Rebel Is Visited In Hideout." Cuban Rebel Is Visited In Hideout (n.d.): n. pag. New York Times. New York Times, 24 Feb. 1957. Web. 15 Sept. 2016.

Sierra, Jerry A. "Batista."