Comandante Che: Guerrilla Soldier, Commander, and Strategist, 1956-1967

352 Pages·2003·2.87 MB·English

by  Paul J. Dosal

Guerrilla Soldier, Commander,
and Strategist, 1956–1967
PAUL J. DOSAL
The Pennsylvania State University Press
University Park, Pennsylvania
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Dosal, Paul J. (Paul Jaime), 1960–
Comandante Che : guerrilla soldier, commander, and
strategist, 1956–1967 / Paul J. Dosal.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-271-02261-2 (cloth : alk. paper)
1. Guevara, Ernesto, 1928–1967—Military leadership.
2. Cuba—History—1933–1959.
3. Insurgency—History—20th century.
4. Guerrilla warfare—History—20th century.
5. Guerrillas—Cuba—Biography.
I. Title.
F2849.22 .G85 D67 2003 2003004755
355.4'25'092—dc21
Copyright © 2003The Pennsylvania State University
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
Published by The Pennsylvania State University Press,
University Park, PA 16802-1003
It is the policy of The Pennsylvania State University Press
to use acid-free paper. Publications on uncoated stock
satisfy the minimum requirements of American National
Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper
for Printed Library Material, ANSI Z39.48–1992.
We must carry the war into every corner the enemy happens
to carry it: to his home, to his centers of entertainment; a total
war. It is necessary to prevent him from having a moment of
peace, a quiet moment outside his barracks or even inside; we
must attack him wherever he may be, make him feel like a
cornered beast wherever he may move.
(cid:209)che guevara, (cid:210)message to the tricontinental,(cid:211) 1967

I dedicate this book to my father,
louis dosal (1928—2002)

List of Maps xi
Preface xiii
Nobody Surrenders Here! 1
The Making of a Revolutionary 23
The Making of a Guerrilla 45
Comandante Che 67
All Guns to the Sierra 95
The Conquest of Santa Clara 131
Guerrilla Warfare 165
The Tricontinental Strategy 193
The History of a Failure 219
Here I Am Adviser to No One 247
Not Another Vietnam 275
Conclusion 305
Bibliography 317
Index 327
ix