Ernesto Guevara de la Serna, an Argentinean physician, and revolutionary who was instrumental in the Cuban Revolution lived from June 14, 1928, until October 9, 1967. After the communist takeover, he worked in the Cuban administration as well before emigrating to try to incite uprisings in Africa and South America. Bolivian security agents apprehended him and put him to death in 1967. He is now viewed as a murderer by some, while others see him as a symbol of defiance and idealism.
Who was Che Guevara | Fast facts, Death & Biography
Fast Facts: Ernesto Guevara de la Serna
- Known For: Key figure in the Cuban Revolution
- Also Known As: Che
- Born: June 14, 1928 in Rosario, Santa Fe province, Argentina
- Parents: Ernesto Guevara Lynch, Celia de la Serna y Llosa
- Died: October 9, 1967 in La Higuera, Vallegrande, Bolivia
- Education: University of Buenos Aires
- Published Works: The Motorcycle Diaries, Guerrilla Warfare, The African Dream, The Bolivian Diary
- Awards and Honors: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Southern Cross
- Spouse(s): Hilda Gadea, Aleida March
- Children: Hilda, Aleida, Camilo, Celia, Ernesto
- Notable Quote: "If you tremble with indignation at every injustice, then you are a comrade of mine."
Who was Che Guevara | Fast facts, Death & Biography
Early Years
In Rosario, Argentina, Ernesto was born into a middle-class family. His family had certain aristocratic traits that could be traced back to the first Argentine settlers. While Ernesto was a child, the family frequently relocated. Early in life, he experienced severe asthma attacks, which occasionally made onlookers fear for his life. However, he was determined to recover from his condition and was quite active throughout his youth, participating in rugby, swimming, and other sports. He also has a top-notch education.
In the Revolution, Che
Second, only to Fidel Castro, Che had a significant role in the Cuban Revolution. Che was smart, committed, tenacious, and tough, but his asthma made every day a torment for him. He received his own command after being elevated to comandante. He personally oversaw their training and educated his troops with communist ideologies. He was disciplined and expected his men to put forth a lot of effort. He periodically gave international media access to his camps so they could report on the uprising. In 1957 and 1958, Che's column was particularly active, taking part in a number of clashes with the Cuban army.
Medicine
Ernesto relocated to Buenos Aires in 1947 to take care of his old grandma. Soon after, she passed away, and he started medical school. Some people think that his inability to save his grandmother inspired him to pursue a career in medicine. He firmly believed that a patient's mental health is just as essential as the medication they are given. Even though his asthma persisted, he continued to exercise, remained very close to his mother, and maintained his fitness. He made the choice to forgo his academics in favor of a holiday.
The Motorcycle Diaries
Together with his close friend Alberto Granado, Ernesto embarked on a journey through South America's north at the end of 1951. They had a Norton motorcycle for the initial leg of the journey, but it was in bad shape and had to be abandoned at Santiago. Through Chile, Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela they journeyed before splitting up. Ernesto carried on to Miami before making his way back to Argentina. Throughout his journey, Ernesto wrote a journal that he later turned into a book called "The Motorcycle Diaries," which was turned into a critically acclaimed film in 2004. After seeing the poverty and suffering in Latin America, he wanted to do something about it even though he had no idea what.
Who was Che Guevara | Fast facts, Death & Biography
Battle of Batista
Batista deployed a sizable army into the mountains in the summer of 1958 in an effort to capture and eliminate the rebels once and for all. This tactic was a terrible blunder that had disastrous results. The rebels outran the army because they were quite familiar with the highlands. Demoralized soldiers switched sides or deserted in large numbers. Castro made the decision to deliver the finishing blow at the conclusion of 1958. Three columns, including Che's, were sent toward the center of the nation by him.
After the Revolution
Che and the other rebels triumphantly rode into Havana and started establishing a new government. Che was given the task (together with Ral) of rounding up, putting on trial, and killing former Batista officials. During his time in the mountains, Che had ordered the execution of a number of traitors. Che orchestrated countless prosecutions of Batista's supporters, the majority of whom were in the military or police. The majority of these cases resulted in conviction and death. The world was horrified, but Che didn't care since he had complete faith in the Revolution and communism. He believed that those who had backed tyranny deserved to be made an example of.
The revolutionary Ché
Che made the decision in 1965 that working for the government, even in a high position, was not his calling. He would travel the world to spread the revolution which was his calling. He vanished from the public eye (causing false allegations about a tense relationship with Fidel) and started making plans to start revolutions in other countries. Che chose to travel to the Congo to support a revolution there that was being headed by Laurent Désiré Kabila because the communists thought that Africa was the weak link in the western capitalist/imperialist stranglehold on the world.
Who was Che Guevara | Fast facts, Death & Biography
Congo
Following Che's departure, Fidel read a letter to the entire country of Cuba in which Che stated his desire to advance the revolution while opposing imperialism everywhere he could. The Congo project was a complete failure, despite Che's revolutionary credentials and idealistic outlook. Che and the other Cubans failed to recreate the conditions of the Cuban Revolution, Kabila proved to be unreliable, and a sizable mercenary force led by South African "Mad" Mike Hoare was dispatched to exterminate them. Che wanted to stay and fight until his death as a martyr, but his Cuban friends persuaded him to go. Che believed that his time in the Congo, which lasted for roughly nine months, was one of his biggest mistakes.
Bolivia
Che aspired to attempt a second communist revolution, this time in Argentina, once he was back in Cuba. He was persuaded by Fidel and the others that Bolivia would be his best bet for success. In 1966, Che traveled to Bolivia. This endeavor was a disaster from the beginning. Che and the roughly 50 Cubans with him intended to get assistance from Bolivia's underground communists, but they proved untrustworthy and may have even betrayed him. He also had to contend with the CIA, which was educating Bolivian officers in counterinsurgency methods while they were in the country. The CIA quickly became aware that Che was in the nation and started keeping an eye on his communications.
The End
Midway through 1967, Che and his ragtag group of fighters began to win several battles with the Bolivian army. By October, he had only about 20 men left and had no access to food or supplies after his men were ambushed in August and one-third of his squad was decimated in a gunfight. The Bolivian government had already put up a reward of $4,000 for information that might lead to Che. In rural Bolivia at the time, that was a substantial sum of money. The Bolivian security forces were closing in on Che and his rebels by the first week of October.
Who was Che Guevara | Fast facts, Death & Biography
Death
Che and his troops halted to rest at the Yuro ravine on October 7. Peasants in the area informed the soldiers, which entered. Che suffered a leg injury during the ensuing shootout, which resulted in the deaths of other rebels. He was taken alive on October 8 and is said to have said to his captors, "I am Che Guevara and worth more to you alive than dead." That evening, he was questioned by the army and CIA personnel, but he did not have anything to divulge. The insurgent movement he led was effectively put to rest after his capture. On October 9, the order was granted, and Sergeant Mario Terán of the Bolivian Army shot Che to death.
Who was Che Guevara | Fast facts, Death & Biography
