July 27 – National Revolution Days in Cuba

nPosted on July 27, 2019

Key Points

nToday is the last day in a three-day festival that celebrates the anniversary of an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow Flugencio Batista, Cuba’s leader, in 1953. Batista had himself taken over the government in a coup; he was a corrupt dictator who suspended the constitution, censored the media, tortured people who resisted his rule, and even publicly executed protesters. Batista was a bad guy – but U.S. corporations, which owned much of Cuba’s farmland and resources, and the American Mafia, which controlled drug and gambling and other businesses in Cuba, were busy getting rich with Batista and didn’t want him to lose power.

nThe rebel band that attacked Batista’s forces on July 27, 1953, was led by Fidel Castro. The rebels were easily stopped, and many were imprisoned while others fled.

nYou may be thinking – wait, I’m pretty sure that Fidel Castro DID become the leader of Cuba.

nAnd you’d be right. But Castro and the other rebels had to spend years attacking Batista’s much richer, larger forces before they finally took over in 1959. Castro’s “army” used guerrilla war tactics such as surprise raids, sabotage, ambushes, hit-and-run attacks, and “petty warfare” (in which small bands attack the support services of a larger army, such as supply trucks, weapon storage facilities, communication posts, and so forth).

Yesterday (July 26) is the actual anniversary and Revolution Day, but since 1976 schools, offices, businesses, and government building are closed from July 25 to July 27. Speeches and rallies are held, and the red-and-black revolutionary flag is displayed.

nCuba’s national flag is quite different than the revolutionary flag and is – like so many nations’ flags – red, white, and blue. As you can see from the photos above, it’s also flown and waved on National Revolution Day.