Camilo Cienfuegos

Lore & Background

Cienfuegos was born into a working-class family, the son of Spanish anarchists who had immigrated to Cuba. His father worked as a tailor and was involved in left-wing activism. Camilo engaged with left-wing politics from an early age, participating in student demonstrations in December 1955 that were violently broken up, and later emigrated to the United States before moving to Mexico to join Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement. He was one of the few survivors of the Landing of the Granma and quickly distinguished himself as a top commander, becoming close friends with Che Guevara during their guerrilla campaign in Las Villas.

Reader's Guide

Cienfuegos's significance lies in his role as a leading commander of the Cuban Revolution, particularly after winning the Battle of Yaguajay in December 1958 and leading the capture of Matanzas and Havana. He was appointed commander-in-chief of the armed forces by the new revolutionary government and oversaw the reorganization of the military, purging leading figures of the Cuban National Army. His disappearance on 28 October 1959, while flying back from Camagüey, spawned numerous conspiracy theories, but no proof of foul play has been discovered. He has since become a revolutionary martyr in Cuba, with institutions such as a Military Schools System and an Order of Merit dedicated to his name. His legacy is upheld by the Cuban government as a loyal supporter of Fidel Castro, and annually on 28 October, Cuban children throw flowers into rivers and seas in tribute to him.

Did You Know?

• Cienfuegos accidentally almost shot Che Guevara during an ambush setup, as Guevara was disguised as a National Army officer.
• He was the son of Spanish anarchists and his father took him along to raise money for the Republicans during the Spanish Civil War.
• His plane disappeared over the Straits of Florida on 28 October 1959, and he was presumed dead after a few days of search and rescue.
• Cienfuegos never publicly expressed any political ideology, though he was claimed by different factions to be a communist, anti-communist, or anarchist.