The Cuban Insurrection 1952-1959

✍ Scribed by Ramon L. Bonachea and Marta San Martin

• Publisher: Transaction Publishers
• Year: 1974
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 443
• Edition: 1
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

The Cuban Insurrection is an in-depth study of the first stage of the Cuban Revolution, the years from 1952 to 1959. The volume depicts the origins of the conflict, details the middle years, and ends with Fidel Castro's victorious arrival In Havana on January 8, 1959. Based on a wealth of hitherto unpublished original material, including confidential military reports, letters from various leaders of the insurrection and data gathered from interviews held In Cuba and abroad, the book Is a descriptive historical analysis of the struggle against military dictator Fulgencio Batista.

The authors challenge the traditional premise that Cuba's insurrection began in the rural areas and only later expanded into urban areas. Instead they argue that the insurrectionary struggle was based upon combined urban-rural guerrilla warfare against the regular army.

Basically, The Cuban Insurrection treats two major movements involved in the struggle―The Directorio Revolucionario and the M-26-7―and examines the growth, ideology, conflicts, and military strategies of their respective rural and urban organizations. The book includes a detailed analysis of combat, strikes, uprisings, and expeditions. Original maps and charts illustrate battles, maneuvers, and guerrilla political structures.

✦ Table of Contents

Cover
Titlepage
Copyright
Dedication
Contents
Preface
Major Historical Events 1868-1952
Political Institutions and Insurrectionary Organizations
Introduction
1: The Moncada Attack
The Road to Action
The Moncada Barracks
The Capture of Fidel Castro
Public Opinion and the Trial
Fidel Castro’s Defense
2: Elections and Amnesty
The Forrajeo
General Amnesty
The Search for a Movement
Frank País
3: The Student Movement
Batista and the Students
José Antonio Echeverría
Santa Marta and Lindero
The Directorio Revolucionario
Ideology of the DR
Student Demonstration: A New Escalation
The Sugar Workers’ Strike and the DR
4: Prologue to Insurrection
The Exiles
Heroes or Martyrs
“Che” Guevara
The Pact of Mexico
Creating the Conditions
5: The Making of the Guerrillas
Conditions in Cuba
A Matter of Arms
The Santiago Uprising
Conditions in Havana
Fidel Castro: Disaster and Recovery
Initial Setback and Regrouping
The Assault on La Plata
Treason and a New Beginning
Reinforcements from the Cities
The Battle of El Uvero
Estrada Palma, Bueycito, Pino del Agua
Organization of the Regular Army
Pino del Agua II
Elements of the Mystique
6: The Palace Attack
The Strategy
The Attack
Aftermath
The Executive Council Meets
Humboldt 7
Praises to Batista
7: Challenge and Repression
The Death of Frank País
The Cienfuegos Uprising
8: Ideology and Politics
M-26-7: Its Ideology
The Tampa Declaration
Junta de Liberación Cubana
Castro versus Chomón
9: A New Strategy
The DR’s Decision to Fight Guerrilla War
The Expedition
The Manifesto of Escambray
The DR Guerrilla Front
Internal Division
The Second Front of Escambray
The Second Front, “Frank País” in Oriente Province
Structural Organization
10: The Frustrated Strike: April 9, 1958
Prelude: U.S. Arms Embargo
Genesis of the Strike
The Pérez-Ray Interview
Objections to the Strike
The Call to Strike
The Meeting at Altos de Mompié
The May Report
A New Alignment: The Communists
The New Reality
The Aftermath
11: The Summer Offensive
Military Plans
Problems of Command
The Offensive
First Move: The Army
Santo Domingo
Unity of the Insurrectional Sector
The Pact of Caracas
Attack: An Intrepid Maneuver
Confidendial Report
Operation “N”
The Battle of Las Mercedes
Regular Army: Summer Offensive
Progressive Disintegration of the Armed Forces
12: The Westward March
Guevara, Chomón and Menoyo
Guevara and Oltusky
13: The Last Battle
November Farce
The Strategy
The Battle
The Armored Train
The Fall of Santa Clara
14: The Final Decision: Batista Leaves
The Castro-Cantillo Meeting
Batista and Cantillo Meet
Plots and Counterplots
The Last Decision
Departure
Now What Do We Do, General?
The Underground Acts
15: The Perils of Counterrevolution
Castro Reacts
The Mirage of Power
The Revolution
Appendices
1: Leadership Positions Held by Militants of the Insurrection in the Cuban Revolutionary Government (1972–1973)
2: Major Events of the Urban Insurrection 1952–1959
3: Guerrilla Actions against the Regular Army, December 2, 1956-December 31, 1958
4: Population in Selected Cities
5: Density and Distribution of Population by Province 1953–1958
Bibliography
Index