Cuba in 1961 (22 photos + text) Bashny.Net

In a small bookstore next to the Cathedral Square in Havana, I bought an album of photos photojournalist Raul Corrales. Cuban photographer shooting happening in Cuba in April 1961 - the famous events in the Bay of Pigs.

April 17, 1961 in the area of ​​the Bay of Pigs on the south of the island landed fifteen hundred well-armed opponents of the Castro regime. CIA prepared for an invasion of Cuba 4 infantry, armored and airborne battalions, heavy artillery battalion and several special units. Attack on Cuba was carried out under the cover of US ships and aircraft.






Three days were fighting. Plans were thwarted attackers decisive actions of the militia fighters, part of the Rebel Army and the students of the school of the militia of the city of Matanzas, who personally supervised Fidel. From 1350 interventionists who landed on the shores of the Bay of Pigs in 1173 were in captivity, and the rest were destroyed.

The picture shows the militias receive weapons in Havana to move to hike to the south of the country.





Long march through the mountains for some fighters was not easy - inexperienced rubbed blisters.



Landing from the sea preceded bombing of the Cuban Air Force base sites in the vicinity of Havana and other cities inflicted April 15 US aircraft (B-26) with the identifying marks of revolutionary Cuba.





So buried Cubans killed during air raids by US aircraft. Fidel goes along with all.



However, in the first hours of battle, the Cuban air force sank 4 transport mercenaries, in Vol. H. "Houston", which was in full force infantry battalion "Rio Escondido" to transport most of the ammunition and heavy weapons teams. In aerial combat were shot 6 of 16 aircraft invaders.







Fidel inspects places recent fighting at the Bay of Pigs.





April 1961 was a time of change for the young revolution and Fidel Castro. Khrushchev first declared that the Soviet Union is ready to provide military assistance to Cuba and Castro himself in gratitude for their solidarity with the defenders of Playa Giron suddenly announced that Cuba will build socialism, which surprised all of his political supporters - before going to the country to hold democratic elections.

President Kennedy did not dare to put in place the US military. There is one of the many versions of the murder of the American president - said that it was a trick of Cuban exiles who have not forgiven Kennedy his indecision during the invasion of the Bay of Pigs.



Fidel on the tank. (As seen in the comments - photograph album printed mirror)



And here on the self-propelled Fidel - it now stands in front of the Museum of the Revolution in Havana.





Surrendered prisoner and captured the invaders tried on one of the Havana area. They were sentenced to various terms of imprisonment, but then the US bought them, putting the island Food and Drug Administration in the amount of $ 53 million.









After a triumphant victory at the Bay of Pigs, Fidel was truly a national hero, and the events in the Gulf - the largest failure of the US government in the fight against the Cuban Revolution.

P.S. The journalist Leonid Velehova who wrote several times about Cuba, I once read the words of Napoleon, recorded them on the island of St. Helena. They are very well suited to what happened on Liberty Island. "What made the revolution? Ambition. That put an end to it? The same ambition. And what a wonderful excuse to fool the crowd was for us all to freedom! »

Photos: Raul Corrales | Meeting with Raul Corrales

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