Rebel offensive (Cuban Revolution)
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Was the offensive by the Cuban revolution that resulted in the end of the Batista government and the establishment of a Communist regime led by Fidel Castro.
Chronology
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November 1958: The rebel forces of Castro surrounded the main cities of eastern Cuba.
January 1958: On January 16 the rebels of Fidel Castro reached Veguitas.
August 1958: Cuban president Fulgencio Batista orders the mass withdrawal of the Sierra Maestra.
January 1959: Battle of Santa Clara.
January 1959: Jiguaní , Contramaestre , Palma Soriano and El Cobre conquered by Cuban Rebels.
January 1959: At dawn of the 1 of January of 1959 , the troops of the Second National Front of the Escambray led by Eloy Gutierrez Menoyo entered Havana. The following day, the troops of the July 26 Movement arrive , commanded by Camilo Cienfuegos and Che Guevar, taking without resistance the Campo Columbia regiment and the San Carlos de la Cabaña Fortress, respectively. Upon entering Campo Columbia, Cienfuegos excluded Colonel Barquín from command and arrested General Cantillo. Shortly afterwards, the troops of the Revolutionary Directory, under the command of Movimiento 26 Faure Chomón, occupied the Presidential Palace, which caused a crisis among the revolutionary forces. Castro learned of Batista's flight in the morning and immediately started negotiations to take over Santiago de Cuba. On 2 January, the military commander in the city, Colonel Rubido, ordered his soldiers not to fight, and Castro's forces took over the city.
February 1958: Raúl Castro opened a Second Front and settle in the Sierra Cristal, north of Santiago.
May 1958: Batista's troops launch a general offensive in the Sierra Maestra to destroy the Castro guerrillas. Important battles such as El Jigue and Santo Domingo take place. The rebels must limit themselves to the massifs of Pico Turquino, Hombrito, Bayamesa and Malverde.
January 1959: On the Second Eastern Front, led by Raúl Castro, important towns such as Alto Songo were taken, La Maya, El Cristo, Dos Caminos and San Luis were taken.
October 1958: The columns of Che Guevara and Camilo Cienfuegos depart on foot towards the Cuban West. It takes six weeks of hiking through swampy areas of the southern coast of Camagüey and Sancti Spíritus until they reach the mountainous area of Escambray.
