Playa Giron

by Castro, Fidel; Fernandez, Jose Ramon

• ISBN13: 9780873489256
• ISBN10: 087348925X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-04-01
• Publisher: Pathfinder Pr

Summary

In fewer than 72 hours of combat in April 1961, Cuba's revolutionary armed forces defeated a U.S.-organized invasion by 1,500 mercenaries. In the process, the Cuban people set an example for workers, farmers, and youth the world over that with political consciousness, class solidarity, courage, and revolutionary leadership, one can stand up to enormous might and seemingly insurmountable odds-and win. "Includes translations of a dozen Cuban primary source documents on the U.S.-backed invasion at the Bay of Pigs.... The documents ... tell a familiar story, but they tell it well. Also contains Jose Ramon Fernandez Alvarez's 1999 testimony about his role leading Cuban troops against the invaders at Playa Giron. Photographs, maps, and charts throughout the book provide a useful supplement to the text."-Hispanic American Historical Review "A varied collection of speeches, communiques and testimonies from the time, by those such as Fidel Castro and Che Guevara, are presented. These well catch the knife-edged political tension and subsequent triumph of the momentous days in April 1961. Using fascinating military maps, photographs and a full chronology of the time, the book provides previously unpublished details surrounding the CIA-backed invasion and the subsequent defeat of the 1,500 US mercenaries at the Bay of Pigs.... [Gives] a real feel for the bravery and conviction of the revolutionary Cuban forces, and their willingness to defend the socialist principles of the Revolution at any cost.... Provides invaluable inspiration."-An Phoblacht/Republican News Foreword by Jack Barnes, 20-page photo section and other photos, maps, charts, chronology, glossary, further reading, index.

Table of Contents

Authors' biographies	5	(11)
Foreword	11	(24)
Jack Barnes
Publisher's note	35	(12)
They cannot forgive us because we made a socialist revolution right under their very nose
Statement to the people of Cuba, April 15, 1961	47	(2)
Fidel Castro
Speech to ceremony honoring those killed in imperialist assault on Cuban airfields, April 16, 1961	49	(14)
Imperialism has always been our great teacher
Concluding words of speech in Pinar del Rio, April 15, 1961	63	(2)
Ernesto Che Guevara
Call to arms broadcast to the people of Oriente province, April 15, 1961	65	(4)
Raul Castro
War communiques to the Cuban people and the peoples of the world
April 17-19, 1961	69	(12)
The Cuban people, rifles in hand, were convinced of their cause
Testimony before the Provincial People's Court of the City of Havana, July 12, 1999	81	(52)
Jose Ramon Fernandez
Maps and charts	133	(24)
Imperialism relied on cannons and tanks, we began with a revolutionary people
Report to the Cuban people on the victory at Playa Giron, April 23, 1961	157	(52)
Fidel Castro
If Mr. Kennedy does not like socialism, well, we do not like imperialism!
Speech to Havana May Day rally, May 1, 1961	209	(22)
Fidel Castro
Appendix 1: Cuban revolutionary ground forces in the battle of Playa Giron	231	(2)
Appendix 2: Brigade 2506 military power	233	(3)
Chronology	236	(20)
Glossary	256	(9)
Further reading	265	(4)
Index	269