The Bay of Pigs Invasion saw the United States attempt invasion on the southern coast of Cuba on April 17, 1961 and is most-often remembered as a significant failure by the US CIA.
Read on to learn more about this memorable event that took place on the reclusive island nation of Cuba.
Lead Up to the Bay of Pigs
In the 1950s, Cuba was controlled by the dictator General Fulgencio Batista who was supported by the United States for his amiability directed to our country — mostly related to trade. In 1959, Fidel Castro, a Cuban nationalist, overthrew Fulgencio Batista and gained control of the nation. Once in power, he and his administration did their very best to remove all American influence in Cuba using the slogan “Cuba Sí, Yanquis No,” which translates to English as “Cubans yes, Yankees no.”
Over the next two years, some Cubans rejected his authority and left Cuba for the United States. It was here that Eisenhower offered to support these exiles by providing them with weapons, training, and a plan to overthrow Fidel Castro.
The Plan
The plan was for 1,400 Cuban exiles to sneak on to the shores of Cuba, take over the Cuban air force and move towards Havana – where they would be joined by the locals to overthrow Castro and his administration. Unfortunately, Castro found out about these plans, moved the air force, and prepared for the invasion. On April 17, the Cuban-Americans landed on the southwestern portion of Cuba, called the Bay of Pigs, and, after fighting for less than a day, the Cuban exiles were forced to surrender – being outnumbered by the thousands of Cuban troops.
Aftermath
The Bay of Pigs led to 114 deaths and the capturing of more than 1,100 Cuban exiles by Castro’s forces. Sadly, it also led to a stronger relationship between Cuba and the Soviet Union and increased support of the Castro administration by the Cuban people.
Final Remarks
At US Patriot Tactical, we remember the heroic Cuban exiles that gave all they had to free their country of the dictatorship of Fidel Castro and look at this invasion as a desperate attempt for liberty — which always deserves respect.
