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Fidel Castro wearing his signature military uniform Photo sourced from

10 Interesting Facts about Fidel Castro and the Cold War

Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz, born on 13th August 1926 was a Cuban revolutionary and politician who was the leader of Cuba from 1959 to 2008, serving as the prime minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976 and president from 1976 to 2008.He was one of the world’s leaders who were publicly ideologically a Marxist鈥揕eninist and Cuban nationalist,

He also served as the first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from 1961 until 2011. Under his administration, Cuba became a one-party communist state; industry and business were nationalized, and state socialist reforms were implemented throughout society. He supported the USSR and the Warsaw pact to the extent he gave Cuba to the Soviet Union to build a nuclear power plant during the cold war. 

Let’s take a look at some of the most interesting facts about him and the cold war;

1.He was born out of wedlock in Biran, a small town in eastern Cuba

Fidel Castro was born out of wedlock at his father’s farm on 13 August 1926. His father, 脕ngel Castro y Argiz, was a veteran of the Spanish鈥揂merican War, and an immigrant to Cuba from Galicia, in the northwest of Spain who became financially successful by growing sugarcane at Las Manacas farm in a small town Bir谩n, in Cuba then in Oriente Province (now Holgu铆n Province).

His mother on the other hand was a household servant Kina Cruz Gonzalez of Canarian ancestry whom Angel Castro got involved with and got pregnant of Fidel. After the collapse of his first marriage he took Lina Ruz Gonz谩lez as his mistress and later second wife; together they had seven children, among them Fidel.

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2. Castro studied law at the University of Havana

A young Fidel Castro Photo sourced from

Castro took an interest in history, geography, and debate at Bel茅n at a very young age, however he did not excel academically, instead devoting much of his time to playing sports. He could later join the University of Havana where his political career started and he could go on to become Cuba’s longest serving leader.  

After graduating in 1950 and opening a law practice,he got interested in the country’s politics and also hoped to run for election to the Cuban House of Representatives only 2 years later. However, the election never happened. Cuba鈥檚 military dictator, Fulgencio Batista, seized power that March. Castro responded by planning a popular uprising to depose Batista.

3. In July 1953, Castro led a failed attack on the Moncada army barracks in Santiago de Cuba

A young Fidel Castro Photo sourced from

While studying, Castro became interested in leftist and anti-imperialist politics and joined the anti-corruption Orthodox Party. Castro soon signed up to be part of what was an aborted coup attempt against the Dominican Republic鈥檚 ruthless dictator, Rafael Trujillo, he was also involved in the fails attempt to overthrow Batista’s government. The assault failed. Castro was captured and sentenced to 15 years in prison while many of his men were killed.

In memory of the Moncada attack, Castro renamed his group the 鈥�26th of July Movement鈥� (MR-26-7).Batista, trying to counter his authoritarian image, released Castro in 1955 as part of a general amnesty. Now free, Castro travelled to Mexico where he met Argentine revolutionary Ernesto 鈥楥he鈥� Guevara. Together, they planned a return to Cuba.

4. Castro was friends with iconic revolutionary Che Guevara

Che Guevarra Monument Santa Clara Cuba Photo sourced from

In November 1956, Castro and 81 others sailed aboard the Granma to the eastern coast of Cuba. They were immediately ambushed by government forces. Castro, with his brother Raul and Che Guevara, hastily retreated to the Sierra Maestra Mountains with a few other survivors but almost no weapons or supplies.

In 1959, the world order was dramatically disrupted. On a small Caribbean island, a band of revolutionary guerrillas overthrew their military dictatorship and established a socialist government, right under the nose of the capitalist superpower, the United States. Cuba now came under the leadership of Video Castro whose ideas were of communism. 

5. Fidel Castro established the first communist state in the Western Hemisphere in 1959

Fidel Castro in 2009 Photo sourced from

In 1958, Batista tried to stop the guerrilla uprising with a massive offensive. Yet the guerrillas held their ground and launched a counterattack, managing to take control from Batista on 1 January 1959.One week later, Castro arrived victorious in Havana to take over as Cuba鈥檚 prime minister.

Meanwhile, revolutionary tribunals tried and executed members of the old regime for war crimes.Since leading the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro has since become a worldwide symbol of communist revolution in Latin America, dressed in guerrilla fatigues with a Cuban cigar between his lips.

Read more about Cuba in 15 Interesting Facts about Cuba

6. In 1960, Castro nationalized all US-owned businesses based in Cuba

Fidel Castro with one of Cuba’s top leaders Photo sourced from

Castro believed a country classed as socialist if its means of production were controlled by the state. The businesses he nationalized included oil refineries, factories and casinos (all high grossing industries). He did not offer compensation to the US owners.This prompted the United States to end diplomatic relations and impose a trade embargo on Cuba. 

The trade embargo continues today and is the longest trade embargo in history.He became publicly an enemy of the United States of America and a friend of the USSR who were communists like him leading to him being actively involved in the cold war between the two superpowers. 

7. Castro publicly declared himself a Marxist-Leninist in late 1961

At the time, Cuba allied more closely and depended more heavily on economic and military support from the USSR. Increasingly threatened by Castro鈥檚 alliance with the Soviets, Cuban exiles trained and funded by the CIA landed near the 鈥楤ay of Pigs鈥� in April 1961, hoping to overthrow Castro.

Their plans ended in disaster, however, and those not killed were captured. Castro freed them in 1962 in exchange for $52 million worth of medical supplies and baby food. The USA felt threatened by Castro’s alliance with the Soviets and felt overpowered by the Soviet’s Union with Cuba during the Cold war. 

Read more about him in Top 10 Famous Cuban people

8. Cuba was radically transformed under Castro

Fidel Castro wearing his signature uniform Photo sourced from

From the moment he took control of Cuba, Castro implemented policies that abolished legal discrimination, brought electricity to the countryside, provided for full employment and advanced education and health care by building new schools and medical facilities.He also limited the amount of land one person could own.

However, Castro also closed publications that opposed his regime, jailed political opponents and did not hold regular elections.He was awarded a wide variety of awards and honors from foreign governments and was cited as an inspiration for foreign leaders like Ahmed Ben Bella and Nelson Mandela, who subsequently awarded him South Africa’s highest civilian award for foreigners, the Order of Good Hope.

9. Castro ruled Cuba for 47 years

As the father of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro was leader of the small Caribbean island from 1959 to 2008. During this time, the US saw 10 presidents: Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

Officially, Castro held the title of premier until 1976 before a long term as president of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers.He is considered one if the longest ruling leaders in the world having ruled Cuba for 47 years. He ruled Cuba with the communism ideology and was liked by almost every low class persons and was disliked by the high class people in the society. 

10. Fidel Castro died on 25th November 2016, aged 90

His death was announced on Cuba鈥檚 state television and was confirmed by his brother Ra煤l. Castro had resigned in 2008 after undergoing serious intestinal surgery, handing control to Ra煤l, who became the first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (the country鈥檚 most senior political position).

He had been a threat to the Americans during the cold war period and at one time had given the Soviet Union the much needed land to build a nuclear power plant, the US air force which stumbled on during a spy mission and though the Soviet Union talked to the USA on a cease fire deal without the knowledge of Castro. This alliance resulted in the Cuban Missile Crisis 鈥� a defining incident of the Cold War 鈥� in 1962.