50 Facts About Fidel Castro

  1. Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz was born on August 13, 1926, in Birán, Cuba.
  2. 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.
  3. Fidel had two younger siblings, Raul and Juanita.
  4. Fidel was a gifted student and received a scholarship to attend the Jesuit-run Belen High School in Havana.
  5. Fidel was a talented athlete and excelled in basketball and baseball.
  6. Fidel studied law at the University of Havana and became involved in political activism.
  7. 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.
  8. Fidel was an admirer of Marxist ideology and was influenced by the writings of Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin.
  9. Fidel participated in a failed attack on the Moncada army barracks in 1953, which is considered the beginning of the Cuban Revolution.
  10. Fidel and his brother Raul were captured and imprisoned after the Moncada attack, but were released in 1955 as part of a general amnesty.
  11. Fidel went into exile in Mexico after his release from prison, where he met Che Guevara and other revolutionary figures.
  12. Fidel and a group of revolutionaries, including Che Guevara, sailed from Mexico to Cuba on the yacht Granma in 1956.
  13. 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.
  14. Fidel’s guerrilla forces captured Havana on January 1, 1959, effectively ending the rule of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista.
  15. Fidel became Prime Minister of Cuba in 1959 and later assumed the role of President.
  16. Fidel’s government nationalized many industries and expropriated private property, leading to tension with the United States and other Western nations.
  17. Fidel’s government nationalized industry and redistributed land to the poor. Fidel’s government established a Free Education and healthcare system in Cuba.
  18. Fidel’s government allied with the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
  19. Fidel survived numerous assassination attempts, including a CIA Plot to poison his cigars.
  20. Fidel was a charismatic leader and a powerful orator. Fidel’s speeches were often hours long and became known as “Marathons.”
  21. Fidel was known for his distinctive appearance, including his Signature Beard and Olive Green Military fatigues.
  22. Fidel’s government faced criticism for its Human Rights Abuses and Suppression of political dissent.
  23. Fidel’s government established a system of surveillance and censorship in Cuba. Fidel’s government also imprisoned and Executed Political dissidents.
  24. Fidel was married twice and had several children.
  25. 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.
  26. 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.
  27. Fidel was a passionate reader and enjoyed literature and history.
  28. Fidel wrote several books, including “History Will Absolve Me” and “My Life.”
  29. Fidel was a lover of baseball and often played with his bodyguards. Fidel was also a music aficionado and enjoyed listening to classical music.
  30. Fidel’s government supported Revolutionary Movements around the world, including in Angola and Nicaragua.
  31. Fidel’s government provided military and economic aid to these countries. Fidel’s government also sent doctors and teachers to these countries.
  32. 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.
  33. Fidel’s government implemented Economic Reforms in the 1990s to address the crisis.
  34. Fidel’s government allowed for Limited Private Enterprise and foreign investment.
  35. Fidel’s brother, Raul Castro, took over as President of Cuba in 2008.
  36. Fidel Retired from Politics in 2008 due to health concerns.
  37. 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.
  38. 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.
  39. Fidel’s government was criticized for its treatment of LGBTQ+ people, who faced persecution and discrimination.
  40. Fidel’s government also faced criticism for its treatment of Afro-Cubans, who often faced discrimination in employment and housing.
  41. Fidel’s government also made significant investments in education and scientific research.
  42. Fidel’s health declined in his later years, and he suffered from a series of illnesses.
  43. Fidel underwent Intestinal Surgery in 2006 and temporarily ceded power to his brother, Raul.
  44. 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.
  45. 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.
  46. Fidel’s funeral was attended by world leaders, including Raul Castro and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
  47. 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.
  48. Fidel’s life and work have been the subject of numerous books, films, and documentaries.
  49. Regardless of one’s opinion of him, Fidel Castro was a significant figure in 20th century history and a symbol of revolutionary struggle.
  50. 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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