Chronology of the Communist Takeover of CubaDiary of a Betrayal
CALENDAR OF EVENTS 1959 – AUG 1960
(Document dated June 1961]
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
1959
January
1. Revolutionary forces seize power and call a general strike to continue in effect until Dr. Manuel Urrutia is nominated President of the Republic.
2. Entrance of Fidel Castro in Havana
http://youtu.be/56Q8zXgR2HQ
3. Prominent figures of the new government:
Dr. Manuel Urrutia – President
Dr. Fidel Castro – Head of the Army
Dr. Jose Miro Cardona – Prime Minister
Dr. Felipe Pazos – Head of the National Bank
Rufo Lopez Fresquet – Minister of Finance
Manolo Ray – Minister of Public Works
Raul Castro – Head in Santiago de Cuba
Ernesto “Che” Guevara – Head of Cabana Fortress
Camilo Cienfuegos – Head of Camp Colombia
4. Starting of trials and executions of Batista followers all over the Island.
February
1. Fidel Castro becomes Prime Minister. Raul Castro becomes head of the army.
2. First time Fidel uses the words “Monopoly” and “Trusts” referring to the Industry during his speech in the Shell Refinery calling for termination of the boycott against Shell.
March
1. Law reducing all house rentals from 30% to 50%.
2. First big public rally to defend the executions. First open attack against monopolies, etc., mainly against CCE (Electric Company) and CTC (Telephone Company).
3. Break in diplomatic relations with Dominican Republic.
4. Establishment of severe travel restrictions outside Cuba.
April
1. Fidel Castro’s trip to the United States and South America.
2. Rumors of conflict between Raul Castro and Camilo Cienfuegos begin to circulate due to opposition of Cienfuegos to communist ideology.
May
1. Agrarian Reform Law is signed in the Sierra Maestra.
2. Donations for the Agrarian Reform reached peak; the Company contributed, together with employees, 20+ tractors.
3. On May 1, during the big rally, ex-president Figueres of Costa Rica who was guest of honor, was verbally abused by David Salvador and Fidel Castro.
4. CTC (Cuban Telephone Company) was intervened and tariff reduced.
June
1. Diaz Lanz, head of the Air Force, flees Cuba.
July
1. President Urrutia is ousted because he shows concern over communist influence in the government.
2. The new Tax Reform Law is published.
3. Big rally called for 1 million countrymen in Havana.Company contributed room and board for 75.
August
1. A conspiracy allegedly supported by the Government of the Dominican Republic was uncovered through the infiltration of pro-Castro elements such as William Morgan and R. Gutierrez Menoyo. A plane loaded with men and arms captured near Trinidad.
October
1. Coordination of tariffs for all freight paid.
2. Mining law establishing control of all exploration activities.
November
1. Felipe Pazos resigns from National Bank. Ernesto “Che” Guevara replaces Pazos.
2. First Catholic Congress
3. ASTA Convention (American Society of Travel Agents).
4. Hubert Matos imprisoned after resigning as head of Camaguey Province due to his concern about communist influence in all government agencies.
December
1. Company starts labor agreement negotiations with our union.
2. Camilo Cienfuegos reportedly anti-communist disappears during a flight from Camaguey where he was checking details on the Hubert Matos resignation.
1960
January
1. All the match industries in Cuba are confiscated.
2. All the members of the old army remaining in their jobs are retired (about 1200).
3. The newspaper “Advance” is confiscated.
4. The Spanish Ambassador, Juan Pablo Lojendio, interrupted abruptly a TV appearance of Fidel Castro protesting insults to Spain. He is immediately ordered to leave the country in 48 hours.
February
1. The Social Security bank (Bansoscu) is created and 5% tax is imposed on all salaries paid and received.
2. A 2% tax to the employees plus 2% tax to employers imposed on all salaries to create a fund for theindustrialization of the country.
3. Visit of USSR Premier Mikoyan and opening of the USSR Industrial Fair.
4. Signing of trade agreement with Russia, also military and cultural agreement.
March
1. The SS “La Coubre” loaded with Belgian ammunition explodes in Havana Harbor. Fidel charges U.S. with sabotage and responsibility for explosion.
2. The newspaper “El Mundo” is confiscated.
3. A decree was issued ordering all school teachers in Cuba to receive a course in “Revolutionary Ideology.”
April
1. Trade Agreement is signed with Poland.
2. Congress of Communist Youth of America held in Havana; all expenses of 900 participants paid for by Cuban government.
3. All workers obliged to register in the Labor Census in the Ministry of Labor.
4. Meetings in all 6 Provinces to commemorate birthday of Lenin.
5. Havana Biltmore Yacht Club intervened.
May
1. First of May celebrated with big rally attended by delegates from USSR, Czechoslovakia, Red China, Poland, and Hungary. No labor demands permitted but banners displaying socialistic and anti-US propaganda shown.
2. Manuel Fortuny communist leader of Guatemala and Jacques Mornard, Trotsky’s murdered arrive in Havana to live there.
3. Diplomatic Relations with USSR are established.
4. Last two free newspapers “Diario de la Marina” and “Prensa Libre” are confiscated.
June
1. Trade Agreement is signed with Czechoslovakia.
2. Export-Import Bank is created as only agency authorized to make purchases outside Cuba.
August
1. 26 American companies are expropriated.
2. First Russian Ambassador arrives in Havana.
Sources: Cuba’sArchives/InternetPhotos/YouTube/TheCubanHistory.com
Chronology of the Communist Takeover of Cuba/The Cuban History/ Arnoldo Varona, Editor