For more than half a century, Cuba has been led by a permanent leader - Fidel Castro. The years of life of the Comandante are full of different events. Fidel Castro’s biography cannot be unambiguously evaluated. Many works, monographs have been written about him and a large number of documentary tapes have been shot. Someone calls him the people's ruler, and someone calls him a dictator. Comandante survived more than 600 attempts on his life.
Fidel Castro's biography: childhood and youth
The future Cuban ruler was born on August 13, 1926 in the province of Orente, in the town of Biran. His family owned a small sugarcane plantation of their own. In 1941, Fidel began his college studies, which he graduated with honors. According to friends and acquaintances, from an early age he was distinguished by rare determination and ambitiousness. Next, Castro continues his studies at the University of Havana. While studying, the future commandant takes an active part in the political actions of the Cuban People’s Party. In 1950, he received a law degree and opened private practice, but revolutionary ideas prevailed.
In 1953, Fidel was directly involved in the attack on a large garrison of government forces, but the enterprise ended in failure. Many conspirators die, and the rest go to jail (including Castro, who received a term of 15 years). However, under the pressure of the Cuban and world public, Fulgencio Batista released prisoners in 1955 and sent them to Mexico.
Fidel Castro's Biography: Cuban Revolution
The future commandant returned to Cuba in 1958 with Che Guevara. With them was an armed militant rebel group. With their return, large-scale revolutionary actions began in Cuba, and the partisan movement began to gain momentum. In 1959, the rebels captured the capital and after some time overthrew the Batista regime. As a result of the revolution, Fidel Castro became the new Cuban dictator, head of government and commander in chief. He began to build socialism, nationalized the property of private companies, as well as plots of medium and large landowners. This pretty spoiled the commandant’s relationship with the United States, and many Cubans began to leave Liberty Island. The country began political repression.
Fidel Castro's biography: relations with the USA
Fidel Castro’s relationship with the United States quickly worsened after the revolution. American corporations, due to nationalization, lost their property, which hit Uncle Sam for the living. The United States simply could not lose the “All-Caribbean brothel” that Cuba was at that time. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been invested in this country. In 1961, the CIA launched a special operation, which is better known as a landing in the Bay of Pigs. On the coast of the island, the Americans landed a brigade of well-armed and trained mercenaries, consisting mainly of Hispanics and fugitive Cubans. They were supposed to start hostilities, foment a rebellion and overthrow the Castro regime, but were defeated. At the same time, Fidel actively cooperates with the USSR. In 1962, Soviet missiles were deployed on the island, which led to the Caribbean crisis.
Cuba's economic development
In the 1960-1970s, the country's economy was actively developing thanks to free Soviet assistance. Tourism is flourishing, medicine is becoming free, and literacy is rising. However, the opposition is still very strong. Castro is even opposed by some former associates. In the 80s, the USSR ceased to help Castro, which led to a severe economic crisis. In the 1990s, Cuba became the poorest country in the region. In 2008, the Cuban leader, in connection with poor health, actually transferred power to his brother Raul.
Fidel Castro. Biography. Comandante's personal life
Reliable data on the personal life of the Cuban leader is not much. According to the official biography, he was married twice, but rumor ascribes to him a huge number of novels. Comandante has seven children.
