Celia Sánchez Manduley's slender figure, her kind manner, simple clothing—often comfortable espadrilles—and the fact that she drove a small plastic jeep herself without an escort, made it difficult to associate her with the heroine of the Republic of Cuba and one of the essential figures of the Revolution.
On January 11, 1980, 46 years ago, this woman, whose name is inextricably linked to the most important revolutionary events following the coup d'état of March 10, 1952, died in Havana at the age of 60.
Celia was born in Central Isabel, Pueblo Nuevo, Media Luna, Oriente, on May 9, 1920, the daughter of Manuel Sánchez Silveira, a man of progressive liberal ideas, and Acacia Manduley Alsina.
Following Frank País's guidance, the young Celia organized the clandestine network of peasants that allowed the guerrilla force led by Fidel Castro to survive after landing in southern Oriente province on December 2, 1956. This network would later become the Rebel Army in the Sierra Maestra mountains.
During the guerrilla's most difficult moments, in February 1957, Celia marched to meet Castro with Frank País, Faustino Pérez, Haydée Santamaría, and other members of the National Directorate of the 26th of July Movement to coordinate support from the plains and guide New York Times journalist Herbert Matthews to Fidel's presence.
The publication of Matthews' interview with the guerrilla leader would shatter Batista's propaganda based on the Commander's supposed death.At the end of April, she returned to the Sierra Maestra mountains, guiding American journalist Bob Taber, who also wished to interview Fidel.
On May 28, as a member of the General Command platoon, she fought in the capture of the El Uvero barracks, becoming the first woman to hold the position of combat soldier in the ranks of the Rebel Army.A few days after this action, Fidel sent her back to the plains with important missions.This proved to be the most dangerous period, as the persecution against her was compounded by the betrayal of a Granma expeditionary, who denounced many of the Movement's collaborators.
This proved to be the most dangerous period, as the persecution against her was compounded by the betrayal of a Granma expeditionary, who denounced many of the Movement's collaborators.
In a letter sent by the guerrilla command in the Sierra Maestra to Frank País, Celia's vital role during the war was underscored when they wrote: “When the history of this revolutionary stage is written, two names will have to appear on the cover: David (Frank País) and Norma (Celia Sánchez).”
On September 4, 1958, Celia played a prominent role in the creation of the Mariana Grajales Women's Battalion, which operated in the La Plata region of the Sierra Maestra mountains, supporting the guerrilla rearguard.This demonstrated that Cuban women could also occupy positions as guerrilla fighters in the battles against the military forces of the Batista dictatorship.
During the war of liberation, she subsequently carried out all the Commander-in-Chief's orders as his personal assistant, and she was involved in the most significant decisions after the triumph in 1959, assuming important tasks and responsibilities, actively participating in the decisive moments of the first decades of the revolutionary period.
During those years, she dedicated herself to collecting and organizing all the information related to the guerrilla struggle to preserve historical memory and to creating many social projects, such as Lenin Park, supporting peasant families in the Sierra Maestra, and providing professional education for their children.She served as Secretary of the Council of State, a member of Parliament, a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba from its inception until her death, and a member of the National Directorate of the Federation of Cuban Women.
For her work, she is known as the Native Flower of the Revolution, and her story is essential when discussing the history of the first decades of the Cuban Revolution.