In the scene of the guerrilla struggle against the tyranny of Fulgencio Batista, the creation of the Camagüey Front responded to the objectives of reestablishing command of all the forces that were fighting against the tyranny in the province and taking charge of operations in the same, as well as preparing the march towards the province of Camagüey of the invading columns.

Created on the orders of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro, the Front was placed under the command of Captain Víctor Mora Pérez, who until that moment was in charge of a small platoon with camp in the San Juan de los Pinales area, known as La Miel.

The Captain was assigned the reestablishment of command of all the forces fighting against the tyranny, take charge of the operations and prepare the march towards the province of Camagüey.

Constitution of the Headquarters and measures to be complied with

On November 18th, 1958, the command of the Front was established, also constituted by Captain Manuel Jacas as auditor, Lieutenant Idelfredo Figueredo as second head of the column, Lieutenant José María Prendes, head of the platoon of the command and Lieutenant Vicente Pérez Elijah.

All the rebel groups operating in the province were subordinated to it, as well as the clandestine movement through the Provincial Directorate of the July 26th Movement (M-26-7). Captain Mora had to organize the actions of the groups of gunmen and militias, including:

•  To carry out the trial of Captain Jaime Vega
•  To direct the actions of the underground movement
•  To support the organization measures for the collection of the war tax
•  To apply revolutionary justice and block the passage of enemy reinforcements towards the East province.

In addition, contacts were established with the Provincial Directorate of the M-26-7 and with the local directorates in the areas where it passed, receiving the support of these with pilots, information, food supply, clothing, medicine and men.

The influx of visitors and citizens who wanted to join the column increased as the days went by; a school was created for the recruits, but given their growth, part of them had to be sent to the school in Minas del Frío, in the Sierra Maestra. The medical service was also organized, which from the first days of December had the assistance of Dr. Wilson Soto Planas, sent by the PSP.

In the north, in the Sierra de Cubitas area, the platoons of column No. 11 “Cándido González” were assigned areas of operations. Captain Botello’s platoon continued to operate in Santa Lucia and during the month of November and the first half of December participated in important actions.

In this way, we can conclude that the Camaguey Front command fulfilled the mission that had been given “to end the Batista tyranny.”

Translated by: Aileen Álvarez García