Che Guevara

Ernesto Rafael Guevara de la Serna was born on 14th of May or 14th of June 1928 in Argentina and lived a civic life. He studied medicine but was more interest in the economical and social inequality in Central- and South America. He paused his studies several time to travel South America.

In his travel diary he wrote, that all his journey across the continent changed him more, than he thought. He believed that the imperial US-Government was responsible for most of the problems in Latin America.

He finished his studies in 1953. Afterwards he met Fidel Castro in Mexico. Fidel was in exile and prepared an armed expedition to Cuba. Che joined the group as a doctor. In 1956 82 revolutionists started their expedition to Cuba. They used the old yacht Granma.

On the way to Cuba they were facing many problems. Shortly after their arrival to Cuba they were already awaited by the Cuban army. On the escape most of the revolutionists died or were arrested. Only 12 people, among them Castro, his brother Raul and Che Guevara, fled in the mountains of the Sierra Maestra. Guevara proved his tactical skills and change his role from doctor to direct participant of the armed actions. With his victory against the numerically superior Batista Army in Santa Clara he became immortal.

Supposedly Fidel and Che were arguing about the direction of the Cuban domestic and foreign policy. In 1965 Che left Cuba to organize a revolution in Congo. This mission failed. Che named the phlegm of the Congolese population as the reason for the failure. Critics say, it was due to lacking organisation and preparation.

In 1966 Che left to Bolivia, hoping he could - similar to the Sierra Maestra - provoke a revolution with the help of the rural population. This mission failed as well. In 1967 he was executed by the Bolivian army.