Cuba Liberation Day (Triumph of the Revolution) (01/01)

On January 1, Cuba celebrates the Triumph of the Revolution (Triunfo de la Revolución) or Liberation Day in Cuba — is the anniversary of the victory of the 1959 revolution and the flight of dictator Fulgencio Batista.

History Excursion:

1952 March 10 It is said that the history of Cuba begins on March 10, 1952, when Army Commander-in-Chief Fulgencio Batista handed over a note to the country's President Prio Socarras early in the morning: «It's all over with you! I — government!». Thus was the beginning of his reign, which was marked by a merciless dictatorship.

The dictator immediately began to act decisively: he terminated the Constitution, dispersed Congress, and canceled the presidential elections scheduled for June of the same year, which, according to all forecasts, were to be won by the opposition.

1953 July 26 Batista's actions were not shared by the majority of Cubans, especially — radical youth, whose leader was 25-year-old lawyer Fidel Castro. In his struggle against the dictatorial regime, he was inflexible.

For about a year, after the proclamation of the Batista dictatorship, preparations were underway for the first assault. On July 26, 1953, patriots numbering about 160 people stormed the Moncada military barracks in an attempt to seize weapons. But the forces were unequal: 15 times larger than the government forces, they managed to capture many of them. Most of the participants in the assault were killed, Fidel Castro was given 15 years in prison, his brother, Raul — 13 years.

1955 May 12 Batista combined the policy of repression with the policy of social demagoguery. He saw no danger to his regime in what he said was a «-improvised green youth revolution». In May 1955, as a sign that he was listening to the voice of the people, he signed a law on amnesty for prisoners. On May 12, 1955, prisoner №4914, Fidel Castro, leaving prison, told newspaper, radio and television correspondents: «For the freedom given to us, we will not give up a single atom of our honor». After the amnesty, Castro was expelled from the country.

1956 November 25 The released rebels settled in Mexico, where they began to prepare a new riot. The «July 26 Movement was created, which 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 boat set off from the Mexican port of Tuspan to the shores of Cuba. On board there were 82 people (including the later famous Argentine doctor Ernesto Che Guevara), 90 rifles, 3 machine guns and 2 anti-tank machine guns.

Only 22 revolutionaries reached the designated place — of the Cresencio Perez estate —, abandoned in the mountains, among whom were Fidel Castro and Che Guevara. Batista stated that everyone was killed.

1957 — 1959 However, gradually Cuba learned the truth about the «blood mountains» and their heroes. Castro's popularity grew very quickly. The local population provided great assistance to the surviving detachment, supplying food, informing about the movement of government troops in the mountains, and providing guides to the rebels.

The rebel struggle gradually turned into a struggle of the entire people against the military-police regime. «The July 26 Movement» became a national patriotic organization, which included both the unemployed and large owners.

On December 31, 1958, the dictator held a New Year's reception. According to eyewitnesses, — Batista was theatrical until the last minute. He closed the New Year ceremony in his usual manner with the words: «Hello! Hello!». Then he looked intently at General Eulogio Cantillo, who had just been appointed commander-in-chief of the army. The general was short as a soldier: «Mr. President, we are the — commander and officers of the army — believe that your abdication of the presidency 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 a heavily guarded military airfield, where four planes were waiting for the dictator and his associates...

Speaking at a million-strong rally, Fidel Castro said that the triumph of the revolution does not mean an immediate solution to all Cuba's problems, nor what each of us will now have in the palace, and in the future life will only be an easy walk for us. «1 January, » the leader of the revolution emphasized then, « we have just won the right to start!—.

Currently, the current president of the country traditionally addresses the people on this day. 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, original documents are presented, and the weapons of revolutionaries are shown. In the museum's garden is the ship «Granma», which brought the rebels to the rebellious island in 1956.

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