From the Collection: Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
Published / Created:
1958
Call Number:
MS 650
Container / Volume:
Box 2, folder 97
Image Count:
1
Description:
Faces and groups photographed at Fidel Castro's La Plata headquarters in the early fall of 1958. Top four frames on right (34-37): Dr. Faustino Perez, a commandante then newly retired from his assignment of coordinator of urban underground activities in Habana - in the aftermath of the disastrous failure of the April 9 general strike attempt organized under the direction of Dr. Perez - and attached to La Plata headquarters staff. Frames 5-16 show a typical bit of business at Fidel's own headquarters hut at La Plata: a small troop of guerrilla soldiers arrives to be dispatched personally by Fidel. For the most part they are fairly recent recruits, mixed with a few bearded veterans (such was the customary composition of new units) and they're on their way to join a line unit - Paco Cabrera's peloton. On frames 5-9 the view of these men is as Fidel sees them from his headquarters hut; on frames 10-12 Fidel is seen joining them and briefly addressing them; on frames 13-14 Fidel ducks back into his office, and the men, after waiting some moments, leave up the hill, along the precipitous path forming the approach to Fidel's house (frames 15-16). Rest of frames show Fidel briefing an officer in front of his headquarters hut.
From the Collection: Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
Published / Created:
1958
Call Number:
MS 650
Container / Volume:
Box 2, folder 99
Image Count:
2
Description:
Cdte. Fidel Castro, photographed at La Plata headquarters in the early fall of 1958. Note frames 8-13 show characteristic bit of daily business: Fidel brought a dispatch (by unidentified local messenger) and reads it with typical concentration. Frames 14-16: Fidel is shown here in another typical command pursuit - receiving the visit of two local politicians who have begun to discern need to establish contact with the leader of the guerrilla forces spreading through the province. Man on left (sombrero) is, in fact, a congressman from one of the nearby districts; fat man on right is one of his honchos. Congressman is identified in our notes only as (first name unknown) Nelson.
From the Collection: Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
Published / Created:
1958
Call Number:
MS 650
Container / Volume:
Box 1, folder 72
Image Count:
1
Description:
This depicts the sort of guerrilla unit that came into existence in 1958, during the second year of civil war, when the rebels gradually expanded their zone of operations: a perimeter unit near Santiago, marking the extent of the Castro forces advance toward the provincial capital. This unit is under Capt. Humberto Diaz Rodriguez, a guerrilla officer from Habana (frames 28-29; also 10-16, note that while Capt. Rodriguez is here shown holding phone, the phone is not really connected). Frames 8 and 9: rebel sentry, whose beard indicates some combat service, but whose shiny shoes, new hat and clean pants indicate the requisitioning of new supplies in the area. In these areas surrounding the major cities of Oriente Province where the rebels managed to set up and defend such outposts, they had extensive contacts with the - almost invariably sympathetic - civilian population. (Frames 2-7) As a result of this commerce with the better-provisioned population of these open plains - now definitely out of the mountain jungles of the Sierra Maestra range - the rebels acquire and roast a small pig: Frames 17-19, also 21-26; also 30-36. Note Frame 27, with Frames 28-29 noted above, shows Capt. Humberto Diaz Rodriguez taking stock of sizable rice stores requisitioned locally.
From the Collection: Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
Published / Created:
undated
Call Number:
MS 650
Container / Volume:
Box 2, folder 100
Image Count:
1
Description:
Fidel Castro inside rebel communications center, under command of very efficient officer, Cdte. Waldo Fernandez (frames 9-12, et seq.). This radio tower had several call signs - RR1, i.e. "Radio Rebelde Uno," also RR7; by the fall of 1958 (date of this photo), it had become the guerrilla forces' principal communications and propaganda lifeline. Frames 19-24 show the field hospital adjoining La Plata headquarters, then under command of Dr. Rene Vallejo and Dr. Bernade Ordaz, the Hospital Mario Muniz. Note that according to strict rebel sanitary policy, local hill people and rebel troopers wait for treatment in this queue without discrimination. Rebels always extended medical services to civilians under their control: this became important source of local support. Other frames show Fidel at La Plata.
From the Collection: Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
Published / Created:
1958
Call Number:
MS 650
Container / Volume:
Box 2, folder 101
Image Count:
1
Description:
Frames 4-6 are a period document: the rebel forces' radio propaganda, psychological warfare and intelligence staff at La Plata headquarters in the early fall of 1958. Woman seated right foreground is Violeta Casals, Radio Rebelde's famous woman announcer (she remained Castro government's principal radio voice for several years after rebel victory); others cannot be identified here with certainty. Other frames show yet another bit of daily business for Fidel Castro: testing a recalcitrant rifle in front of La Plata headquarters shack. Behind him are shown various members of his personal staff: Antonio Llibre, his clerical secretary-aide (frames 14-20) and Orlando Pupo, jefe de escolta (left rear on frames 18-19).
From the Collection: Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
Published / Created:
1958
Call Number:
MS 650
Container / Volume:
Box 2, folder 102
Image Count:
1
Description:
This sheet shows only sound-on-film, hour-long TV interview granted by Fidel Castro in Sierra Maestra. The cameraman, Erik Durschmied of Montreal, managed, together with this photographer, to smuggle a full Auricon sound rig into rebel headquarters at La Plata: it was set up on a hilltop overlooking Fidel's own headquarters complex. Film was lost for several months in process of being smuggled out of the Sierra, but was recovered in time to be shown on the CBC's popular Pierre Berthot interview show shortly after rebel victory in January 1959. CBC cameraman Erik Durschmied (hat, sunglasses) is shown on frames 4-23 with Fidel.
From the Collection: Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
Published / Created:
1958
Call Number:
MS 650
Container / Volume:
Box 2, folder 103
Image Count:
1
Description:
Fidel Castro at La Plata headquarters in early fall of 1958 giving TV sound interview to CBC cameraman Erik Durschmied. Some of the frames (16, 29) show Fidel consulting his (English-language) notes during interview; most of the other frames show him delivering answers (at) invisible TV camera. See also Print 32.
From the Collection: Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
Published / Created:
undated
Call Number:
MS 650
Container / Volume:
Box 2, folder 104
Image Count:
1
Description:
This sheet was photographed along the approach route to Fidel Castro's headquarters near La Plata. Lt. Vilo Acuna testing his homemade rebel rifle grenade launcher (frames 3-10; See also Print 18.). Frames 12-18: Rebel requisitioned road grader with its proud guerrilla crew. Among approach routes to central guerrilla areas - the approach routes through foothills - growing rebel troop units were beginning to maintain roads, transfer points, supply dumps for gasoline and lubricants, and other semi-permanent installations designed to insure a predictable flow of military traffic through back roads of rebel zone. Frames 25-26 show Capt. Mario Hidalgo with his family. On right, youth in uniform is Mario's son, Hanibal Hidalgo, then photographer's travel aide. Note dog-tag hanging from Hanibal's neck: it was captured from government soldiers and laboriously re-engraved by hand, giving Hanibal much-wanted military appearance. Frames 32-37: Outside Fidel's headquarters hut at La Plata, the headquarters' dental officer, Dr. Enrique Borges, has his foot-operated drill and consulta.