Attack on the Moncada Barracks

Historical Overview

The armed assault on the Moncada Barracks in Santiago de Cuba, led by a group of around 135 revolutionaries under Fidel and Raúl Castro, marked the inception of the Cuban Revolution. The primary strategic objective of the insurgents was to capture the country's second-largest military garrison to seize weapons and spark a nationwide popular uprising against the U.S.-backed dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista. The poorly coordinated raid ended in a catastrophic military failure, resulting in the execution or capture of most rebels. However, it proved to be a monumental political turning point, catapulting Castro into the national spotlight and giving birth to the "July 26th Movement" (Movimiento 26 de Julio).