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CHRONOLOGY
Tracking Ché Guevara’s history since the beginning
of the Invasion of the western part of the island until the occupation
of Santa Clara
1958
August 30, de 1958:
The Invasion Column No. 8, commanded by Ernesto Guevara, leaves
the Sierra Maestra in order to begin Las Villas’ Invasion.
September 7, 1958:
The Invasion Column No. 8 arrives to Camagüey province.
September 8, 1958:
The Invasion Column No. 8 walks into an ambush laid by the Batista’s
army in La Federal.
September 14, 1958:
Combat in Cuatro Compañeros.
October 16, 1958:
The Invasion Column No. 8 establishes its camp in the area of Planta
Cantú, at the foot of the Sierra del Escambray, in Las Villas
province.
October 17, 1958:
El Ché commands to strike camp and the Invasion Column begins
to climb the mountains. They arrive to Santa Rosa and then to Gavilanes,
where the first camp is established, trying to go deep into an area
of a much more difficult access. They stay in this camp for three
days.
October 21, 1958:
Ché meets with the different forces operating in the Escambray
in Dos Arroyos, El Algarrobo and Las Piñas.
October 26-27, 1958:
The Invasion Column No. 8 commanded by Ché occupies the Guinía
de Miranda barracks
October 28, 1958:
Ché establishes his headquarters in Caballete de Casa.
November 8, 1958:
Ché issues the Agrarian Reform decree in the Escambray. In
that moment, the column has a camp in the plain, in the area of
Manaca Ransola.
November 28, 1958:
The Batista’s army goes to the offensive in the theater of
operations of de Invasion Column No. 8. As during the Summer Offensive
in the Sierra Maestra, this offensive is defeated by Ché’s
strategy consisting of the division of the forces, ambushes and
the establishing of points to stop the advance of the enemy army.
December 1, 1958:
“El Pedrero Pact” is signed in Ché’s camp,
near the village of the same name.
December 12 1958:
The Invasion Column No. 8 troops occupy the Escambray sugar refinery.
December 16-18 1958:
Fomento Battle, the forces commanded by Ché occupied the
town.
December 21-23, 1958:
Cabaiguán is occupied by the Invasion Column No. 8.
December 23, 1958:
The forces commanded by Ché occupy Placetas.
December 26, 1958:
Ché liberates Remedios and Caibarién.
December 29-31, 1958:
Santa Clara’s Battle.
1959
January 1st, 1959:
The Rebel Army’s forces, commanded by Ché, occupy the
city of Santa Clara. He receives immediately the Fidel’s order
to continue advancing on Havana.
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