Mariana Grajales Women's Platoon
The Mariana Grajales Women's Platoon (Spanish: El pelotón Mariana Grajales), or Las Marianas, was an all-female military platoon created by Fidel Castro, Celia Sánchez, and Haydée Santamaría during the 26th of July Movement on 4 September 1958, named after the Cuban icon Mariana Grajales Cuello who served in the Cuban War of Independence.[3][4][5]
| Mariana Grajales Women’s Platoon | |
|---|---|
| El pelotón Mariana Grajales | |
| Active | 4 September 1958 - 1 January 1959 |
| Disbanded | 1 January 1959 |
| Country | Cuba |
| Allegiance | 26th of July Movement |
| Size | 13 or 14 |
| Nickname(s) | Las Marianas |
| Engagements | Battle of Cerro Pelado, Battle of Guisa[1][2] |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Isabel Rielo, Teté Puebla |
History
After a group of women led by Isabel Rielo pleaded with Fidel Castro to create a women's unit, Castro summoned the leaders of the rebel army for a debate on 3 September 1958. After seven hours of discussion, at about 1 a.m. Castro authorized the creation of the platoon.[6] Isabel Rielo was selected to lead the platoon as the result of a shooting test.[7]
It is estimated by several accounts that women only made up about 5% of the total rebel forces during the Cuban Revolution.[8][9] So the Mariana Grajales Platoon, which was composed of 13 young women, was a unique component of the revolutionary army.[10][11] The platoon was essential in the rebels' 28 September 1958 victory over the Batista forces at Cerro Pelado (near modern-day Bartolomé Masó) after a three-day battle.[11]
Members of the platoon used M1 carbines as their weapon of choice.[12]
Following victory in January 1959, the members of the platoon worked to build schools in the mountainous portion of eastern Cuba.[13]
On 4 September 1988, the 30th anniversary of the founding of the platoon, a commemorative event was held at the headquarters of the Women's Anti-Air Artillery Regiment.[14] In attendance were Vilma Espín, president of the Federation of Cuban Women, Nguyễn Thị Định, then-Vice President of Vietnam and member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, and Corps General Julio Casas Regueiro of the Revolutionary Armed Forces.
Members
- Haydée Santamaría[15][16]
- Isabel Rielo Rodríguez (commanding officer)
- Teté Puebla (second-in-command)
- Olga Guevara Pérez
- Eva Palma Rodríguez
- Lilia Rielo Rodríguez
- Rita García Reyes
- Angelina Antolín Escalona
- Edemis Tamayo Núñez
- Norma Ferrer Benítez
- Flor Pérez Chávez
- Juana Peña Peña
- Orosia Soto Sardiña
- Ada Bella Acosta Pompa[17]
See also
- Dickey Chapelle, an American photojournalist who reported on the Cuban Revolution and observed the platoon from the rebels' side [18]
- Federation of Cuban Women
References
- Noticias, Agencia Cubana de. "Batalla de Guisa, victoria esencial del Ejército Rebelde". Agencia Cubana de Noticias (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2020-05-14.
- "The Militant - April 20, 2004 -- How Rebel Army took the town of Guisa". www.themilitant.com. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
- "Women in Cuba: The Revolution Within The Revolution". NADJA. 2016-12-05. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
- THOMAS-WOODARD, TIFFANY A. (2003). ""Towards the Gates of Eternity": Celia Sánchez Manduley and the Creation of Cuba's New Woman". Cuban Studies. 34: 154–180. ISSN 0361-4441. JSTOR 24487881.
- "Las Marianas, un pelotón de valerosas mujeres". www.artemisaradioweb.icrt.cu. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
- "Revelaciones sobre Las Marianas". www.juventudrebelde.cu (in Spanish). Retrieved 2020-05-14.
- "Las Marianas de la Sierra". www.granma.cu. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
- Volo, Lorraine Bayard de (2018-02-01). Women and the Cuban Insurrection: How Gender Shaped Castro's Victory. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-316-83609-5.
- The Guerrilla and how to Fight Him. U.S. Marine Corps. 1962.
- Reif, Linda L. (1986). "Women in Latin American Guerrilla Movements: A Comparative Perspective". Comparative Politics. 18 (2): 147–169. doi:10.2307/421841. ISSN 0010-4159. JSTOR 421841.
- Haney, Richard (2005). Celia Sánchez: The Legend of Cuba's Revolutionary Heart. Algora Publishing. ISBN 978-0-87586-397-9.
- Diamond, Marie Josephine (2013-06-29). Women and Revolution: Global Expressions. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 978-94-015-9072-3.
- Randall, Margaret (2015-09-02). Haydée Santamaría, Cuban Revolutionary: She Led by Transgression. Duke University Press. ISBN 978-0-8223-7527-2.
- Cuba annual report 1988 | Office of Research & Policy | Radio Martí Program. Transaction Publishers. 1991-01-01. ISBN 978-0-88738-420-2.
- Samuel Farber (13 December 2011). Cuba Since the Revolution of 1959: A Critical Assessment. Haymarket Books. pp. 190–. ISBN 978-1-60846-166-0.
- "4 Cuban Revolutionaries Who Fought For Their Country, Women's Rights & A Better World". NADJA. 2016-08-02. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
- Toro, Roberto Ortiz del. "Las Marianas: symbol of the courage and value of Cuban women". www.radioangulo.cu. Retrieved 2020-05-14.
- Jones, Meg. "Dickey Chapelle covered Castro, Cuban revolution". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 2020-05-13.