The final days of 1958 in Cuba were tense as the Rebel Army's victory over Fulgencio Batista's dictatorship approached. At dawn on January 1, 1959, Commander Fidel Castro learned of the tyrant's flight and mobilized the people.
Fidel was at the Central América sugar mill's workers' village, where he had spent the night. Without wasting a minute, he drafted a proclamation, went to the mobile Radio Rebelde station, set up in the liberated city of Palma Soriano, and addressed the Cuban people in a broadcast that was retransmitted by numerous radio stations.
"Whatever the news coming from the capital, the troops must not cease fire under any circumstances. The forces must continue their operations against the enemy on all battlefronts. Pardons will only be granted to garrisons that wish to surrender," he said.
"It appears," he warned, "that a coup d'état has taken place in the capital," and he called on the people to be on high alert and heed only the instructions of the General Command. “Revolution Yes, military coup No! To steal victory from the people, No, because that would only prolong the war!” he emphasized.
Minutes later, Fidel drafted a second address in which he called the people to a revolutionary general strike. He instructed the columns outside Santiago de Cuba to occupy their positions and be ready for the order to attack. He ordered Commander Camilo Cienfuegos to depart immediately for Havana with the forces at his disposal, without weakening the central front, and to occupy Camp Columbia.
He gave Che Guevara the mission of going immediately to Havana and taking charge of La Cabaña fortress, to which he replied: “Commander, your orders will be carried out.”
Before departing that same morning from Palma Soriano for Santiago de Cuba, Fidel ordered Radio Rebelde to continue broadcasting in conjunction with CMKC in Santiago de Cuba, as well as national and amateur radio stations, to keep the people truthfully informed and prevent them from being misled by false news.
Santiago de Cuba was occupied by more than 5,000 Batista soldiers. The Moncada Barracks had a strong defensive position at all its entrances and access points. One thousand two hundred rebel fighters intended to take the city, and they would be supported by the population, who, along with the 26th of July Movement militias, would rise up in arms at the command. There were four soldiers for every guerrilla fighter, the most favorable ratio for the revolutionary forces in all 761 days of the war.
The city was on a war footing, and the morale of the soldiers was at rock bottom. In the afternoon, Raúl entered the Moncada Barracks without a fight, tore down the dictator's portrait in front of the officers, addressed the soldiers on the barracks' firing range, and Colonel Rego Rubido formally surrendered.
On the night of January 1st, Fidel marched toward the indomitable city and, amidst extraordinary jubilation, descended the Escandel hills. Olive-green uniforms mingled with the yellow khakis of soldiers and officers of the Army, who also wore the red and black armbands of the 26th of July Movement.
Late on the night of the new year, the radio summoned the people of Santiago to gather in Céspedes Park, and immediately thousands of people lined up in front of City Hall to hear the words of the leader of the Revolution.
Monsignor Enrique Pérez Serantes, Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba, was the first to speak, conveying a message of peace and reconciliation. Next, Commander Raúl Castro Ruz addressed the people. Other speakers included: José Pellón Jaén, on behalf of the workers; Omar Fernández Cañizares, for the students; Leyila Sarabia Rodríguez, for Cuban women; and Francisco Ibarra Martínez, representing the teachers and other active members of the community, among others.
Amid applause, Fidel then spoke of how long and arduous the journey had been, but that they had finally arrived. He explained that when they decided that Santiago de Cuba would be the Provisional Capital of the Republic, it was not to flatter any particular city, but because Santiago had been the strongest bastion of the Revolution.
He denounced the betrayal of General Eulogio Cantillo and the failure of the military coup attempt in Havana. This time, he said, it wouldn't be like 1895, when the Americans wouldn't let Calixto García into that historic city; nor like 1933, when Batista betrayed the people, seized power, and established an 11-year dictatorship. It also wouldn't be like 1944, the year the crowds believed the people had finally come to power, only to find that it was the thieves who seized it. This time, he emphasized, it truly is the Revolution.
He announced that that night, Dr. Manuel Urrutia Lleó would assume the provisional presidency of the Republic and appoint his cabinet from Santiago de Cuba, excluding Fidel from any position.