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Camilo Cienfuegos | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 6 February 1932 Havana, Cuba |
| Died | 28 October 1959 Straits of Florida |
| Cause of death | Disappeared |
| Nationality | Cuban |
Camilo Cienfuegos Gorriarán (February 6, 1932 – October 28, 1959) was a Cuban revolutionary. Along with Fidel Castro, Raúl Castro, Che Guevara and Juan Almeida Bosque, he was a member of the 26th of July Movement, which overthrew Cuba's fascist Statesian-backed dictator, Fulgencio Batista. Cienfuegos became one of Castro's top guerrilla commanders during the Cuban Revolution, and later served as head of the Cuban Armed Forces under Fidel Castro's socialist government. He led agrarian reform but disappeared shortly after the revolution, probably in a plane crash.[1]
Early life
Cienfuegos was born in Havana in 1932 and became a leftist because of his father. He got into a fine arts school but had to leave due to financial pressure and became a tailor like his father.[1]
Activism
In 1948, Cienfuegos protested against Havana raising bus fares. In 1953, he went to the United States with Rafael Sierra and joined Cuban Civic Action, a leftist organization of Cuban exiles. He protested against US-backed dictators like Batista, Trujillo, and Somoza. Immigration officials arrested him and Sierra in San Francisco and sent them to Mexico.[1]
Revolution
Cienfuegos met with Castro in Mexico in May 1956. He was one of only 12 surviving revolutionaries after they returned to Cuba in November. He and Che Guevara defeated Batista at Yaguajay in December 1958, forcing Batista to flee.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Devin Cole (2022-02-07). "Camilo Cienfuegos: Celebrating the young revolutionary" Workers World. Archived from the original on 2023-02-07.