- Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz was born on August 13, 1926, in Birán, Cuba.
- Fidel’s father, Angel Castro y Argiz, was a wealthy sugar plantation owner in Cuba. Fidel’s mother, Lina Ruz Gonzalez, was his father’s mistress and later his wife.
- Fidel had two younger siblings, Raul and Juanita.
- Fidel was a gifted student and received a scholarship to attend the Jesuit-run Belen High School in Havana.
- Fidel was a talented athlete and excelled in basketball and baseball.
- Fidel studied law at the University of Havana and became involved in political activism.
- Fidel joined the Orthodox Party, a political group committed to fighting corruption in the Cuban government. Fidel became disillusioned with the Cuban government and began to plot its overthrow.
- Fidel was an admirer of Marxist ideology and was influenced by the writings of Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin.
- Fidel participated in a failed attack on the Moncada army barracks in 1953, which is considered the beginning of the Cuban Revolution.
- Fidel and his brother Raul were captured and imprisoned after the Moncada attack, but were released in 1955 as part of a general amnesty.
- Fidel went into exile in Mexico after his release from prison, where he met Che Guevara and other revolutionary figures.
- Fidel and a group of revolutionaries, including Che Guevara, sailed from Mexico to Cuba on the yacht Granma in 1956.
- Fidel’s guerrilla forces initially faced setbacks and were forced into the Sierra Maestra mountains, where they waged a successful guerrilla campaign against government forces.
- Fidel’s guerrilla forces captured Havana on January 1, 1959, effectively ending the rule of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista.
- Fidel became Prime Minister of Cuba in 1959 and later assumed the role of President.
- Fidel’s government nationalized many industries and expropriated private property, leading to tension with the United States and other Western nations.
- Fidel’s government nationalized industry and redistributed land to the poor. Fidel’s government established a Free Education and healthcare system in Cuba.
- Fidel’s government allied with the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
- Fidel survived numerous assassination attempts, including a CIA Plot to poison his cigars.
- Fidel was a charismatic leader and a powerful orator. Fidel’s speeches were often hours long and became known as “Marathons.”
- Fidel was known for his distinctive appearance, including his Signature Beard and Olive Green Military fatigues.
- Fidel’s government faced criticism for its Human Rights Abuses and Suppression of political dissent.
- Fidel’s government established a system of surveillance and censorship in Cuba. Fidel’s government also imprisoned and Executed Political dissidents.
- Fidel was married twice and had several children.
- Fidel’s first wife was Mirta Diaz-Balart, whom he divorced in 1955. Fidel’s second wife was Dalia Soto del Valle, whom he married in 1980.
- Fidel had at least Nine children, including five sons and four daughters. Fidel’s son, Fidel Castro Diaz-Balart, was a nuclear physicist who committed suicide in 2018.
- Fidel was a passionate reader and enjoyed literature and history.
- Fidel wrote several books, including “History Will Absolve Me” and “My Life.”
- Fidel was a lover of baseball and often played with his bodyguards. Fidel was also a music aficionado and enjoyed listening to classical music.
- Fidel’s government supported Revolutionary Movements around the world, including in Angola and Nicaragua.
- Fidel’s government provided military and economic aid to these countries. Fidel’s government also sent doctors and teachers to these countries.
- Fidel’s government faced a major crisis in 1991 when the Soviet Union collapsed. The collapse of the Soviet Union meant that Cuba lost its major source of Economic and Military Support.
- Fidel’s government implemented Economic Reforms in the 1990s to address the crisis.
- Fidel’s government allowed for Limited Private Enterprise and foreign investment.
- Fidel’s brother, Raul Castro, took over as President of Cuba in 2008.
- Fidel Retired from Politics in 2008 due to health concerns.
- In 2011, Fidel wrote an editorial in which he admitted that the Cuban economic model was not working. Fidel continued to write editorials and give occasional public appearances after his retirement.
- Fidel was a Controversial Figure, both in Cuba and internationally. Some saw him as a Hero and Revolutionary, while others saw him as a Dictator and Human Rights Abuser.
- Fidel’s government was criticized for its treatment of LGBTQ+ people, who faced persecution and discrimination.
- Fidel’s government also faced criticism for its treatment of Afro-Cubans, who often faced discrimination in employment and housing.
- Fidel’s government also made significant investments in education and scientific research.
- Fidel’s health declined in his later years, and he suffered from a series of illnesses.
- Fidel underwent Intestinal Surgery in 2006 and temporarily ceded power to his brother, Raul.
- Fidel made a public appearance in 2010 to support the Communist Party of Cuba. Fidel made his Last Public Appearance in 2016, during the Cuban Communist Party Congress.
- Fidel died on November 25, 2016, at the age of 90. Fidel’s death was met with both mourning and celebration, depending on one’s political views.
- Fidel’s funeral was attended by world leaders, including Raul Castro and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
- Fidel’s legacy continues to be debated in Cuba and around the world. Some see him as a revolutionary leader who stood up to imperialism and fought for social justice. Others see him as a dictator who suppressed dissent and violated human rights.
- Fidel’s life and work have been the subject of numerous books, films, and documentaries.
- Regardless of one’s opinion of him, Fidel Castro was a significant figure in 20th century history and a symbol of revolutionary struggle.
- Fidel’s legacy continues to be felt in Cuba and around the World, as his ideas and ideology continue to Inspire Leftist Movements and political struggles.
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