25th anniversary of Castro’s victory over Batista

Title

25th anniversary of Castro’s victory over Batista

Genre

News report; Interview

TX Date

1 Jan 1984

Year of production

1984

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Duration

00:09:35

Description

Report (from Havana) on the twenty-fifth anniversary of Cuban President Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz coming to power by overthrowing President Fulgencio Batista. Trainee pharmacist Oscar Alcalde was there at the time and he explains (via an interpreter) what it was like at the University of Havana in 1952, when Castro visited him in the laboratory. Castro went to Cubans exiled in the United States in order to gather more support and strike his first blow against Batista at the Moncada barracks in Santiago. The attack was a failure but thirty-five of Batista’s men were killed or injured. Castro’s followers then fled to the Sierra Maestra Mountains. Fidel, Pepe Suarez and Castro were found by Lieutenant Pedro Sarria. Their participation left them with prison sentences. They were freed after three years because Batista declared an amnesty for political prisoners. Castro’s forces won their battle on 01/01/59. Female reporter not identified.

Contributors

Fidel Castro; Oscar Alcalde

Keywords

USA; Political prisoners; Cuba; Political leadership; Fidel Castro; Presidents; Reminiscence; Political leaders; Pharmacists; Anniversaries; Santiago; Fulgencio Batista; University of Havana; The Movement; 26th July Movement; Sierra Maestra Mountains; Pepe Suarez; Pedro Sarria

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