Plaza of the Presidential Palace, million-person rally to support the Revolutionary government’s trial and executions of Batistianos, and trial in sports stadium of José Sosa Blanco

Found In:

Manuscripts and Archives > Andrew St. George papers (MS 1912) > Series II: Photographs > Cuba > Cuban Revolution and aftermath > Plaza of the Presidential Palace, million-person rally to support the Revolutionary government’s trial and executions of Batistianos, and trial in sports stadium of José Sosa Blanco

10020855

Description

Title: Plaza of the Presidential Palace, million-person rally to support the Revolutionary government’s trial and executions of Batistianos, and trial in sports stadium of José Sosa Blanco
Creator: From the Collection: St. George, Andrew, 1924-2001
Published / Created: 1959 January
Description: This folder includes images of “Operation Truth,” a campaign on the part of the revolutionary government to show American critics that the Cuban people supported the trial and execution of all intelligence and security forces of the Batista dictatorship that was responsible for committing atrocities against its opponents. A highlight of the campaign was the trial of Captain Jesús Sosa Blanco, commander of the military garrison in Holguín, Oriente Province, and one of the most despised batistiano officials on the island in Havana's National Stadium; the trial occurred on January 14, 1959, before 18,000 spectators and members of the international press corps. There are images in the folder showing a million-plus rally in support of revolutionary justice held before the Presidential Palace. There is a portrait of Elena Escardo, under arrest in Santiago de Cuba. The verso of this portrait describes her as a “Mexican actress, torrid romantic interest of Masferrer in the late Fifties; here shown under arrest in Santiago after Masferrer fled and Castro took over. She was shot as a suspected spy.” There is another photograph showing two rebels standing before a large mound of earth. The caption reads: “WIDE WORLD PHOTOS. MASS GRAVE OF EXECUTED. SANTIAGO, CUBA.... This mound of earth covers the mass grave of 71 Batista followers reported executed yesterday by Cuban rebels. Rebel officers say four of those executed were found guilty of crimes at a Sunday night military tribunal. Rebel Capt. Frank Fiorino, (left) an American from Norfolk, Va., is one of the two men standing by the grave. January 13, 1959.”
Provenance: Purchased from Jean Szentgyorgyi by the Latin American Curator, June 2009; transferred from the Latin American Curator to Manuscripts and Archives, 2012.
Extent of Digitization: This object has been partially digitized.
Language: English

Item Location

Repository

Manuscripts and Archives

Call Number

MS 1912

Search for Additional Digitized Material in This Collection

Manuscripts and Archives
- Andrew St. George papers
  - Series II: Photographs, 1949 - 1972
    Cuba
    Cuban Revolution and aftermath
    THIS ITEM Plaza of the Presidential Palace, million-person rally to support the Revolutionary government’s trial and executions of Batistianos, and trial in sports stadium of José Sosa Blanco

Container / Volume

Box 42, folder 8

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Access And Usage Rights

Access: Public
Rights: The use of this image may be subject to the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) or to site license or other rights management terms and conditions. The person using the image is liable for any infringement.
Citation: Andrew St. George Papers (MS 1912). Manuscripts and Archives, Yale University Library.

Identifiers

Orbis Record: 9060277
Object ID (OID): 10020855