The Revolution of '33 and the end of Machado's tyranny

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By Roberto Morales Ojeda, secretary of organization of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, translated from the Spanish

August 12, 1933 marked a before and after in the history of Cuba. On that day, the dictatorship of Gerardo Machado, a tyrant who had driven the country into repression, crisis, and hunger, fell. His downfall was due to the bravery of the people, the general strike, and the efforts of countless Cubans who refused to remain oppressed. As Fidel stated, it marked the awakening of a people who would no longer be passive. Raúl Roa, both a prisoner and a relentless fighter, was a witness and key figure in this revolutionary achievement that paved the way for Cuban dignity and sovereignty.

Years later, Roa, reflecting on the reasons behind the failure of that betrayed Revolution, acknowledged that it didn't bring about the definitive change, which eventually arrived with the clarion call of January. He stated: "The Revolution of '30 went to hell, but it succeeded in overthrowing the dictator Machado, whose authoritarianism and violence earned him infamous nicknames like Mussolini Tropical and Ass with claws."

Rubén Martínez Villena, a prominent revolutionary intellectual and leader within the Cuban labor and communist movement, made an essential impact. Villena recognized the importance of forming a broad popular front that encompassed all revolutionary forces for both national and social liberation.

The Revolution of 1933 not only ended an oppressive regime, but also symbolized for Cubans the decision to take control of their destiny. It was the echo of social justice that would demand much more in the following decades. It was the spark that ignited hope for real freedom, justice, and democracy for a nation that refused to live on its knees. Those significant events, which initially seemed to disappear into oblivion, became a profound lesson of wisdom and experience for the battles that resulted in the irreversible triumph of 1959. They remain relevant today, especially in a time that calls for great unity.

On this anniversary, we proudly recall that heroic struggle and reaffirm our commitment to continue building the legacy of dignity it left to us.

This work was translated and shared via a License CC-BY-NC