Eulogio Cantillo Biography and Timeline

Birth of Euilogio Cantillo

Birth of Euilogio Cantillo

Operation Verano

Commands Batista's summer offensive against Castro's guerrillas.

Role range: 1958-1959

Operation Verano

Cantillo surrounds the mountain range of the Sierra Maestra, and set up roadblocks to prevent supplies from getting to the guerrillas, and attacked from the north to drive the guerrillas down to the south coast

Role range: 1958-1959

Operation Verano

The offensive fails because Cantillo's soldiers fight in unfamiliar terrain (forests and jungles of the Sierra Maestra) and because much of the army was demoralized and unmotivated

Role range: 1958-1959

Operation Verano

Commands Batista's offensive against the Sierra Maestra rebels.

Role range: 1958-1958

Mountain Supply Routes Blocked

Cantillo places roadblocks around the Sierra Maestra to restrict supplies reaching the rebels.

Role range: 1958-1958 – 1958-1958

Operational Command Assigned

Cantillo receives responsibility for the principal army operation against Castro.

Role range: 1958-1958 – 1958-1958

Sierra Maestra Encirclement Plan

Cantillo establishes roadblocks and advances intended to isolate Castro's mountain headquarters.

Role range: 1958-1958 – 1958-1958

Operation Verano Command

General Eulogio Cantillo directs government forces during Operation Verano, the large offensive intended to destroy the 26th of July Movement in the Sierra Maestra.

Attack from Estrada Palma

Cantillo begins a major advance from the Estrada Palma sugar mill area.

Role range: 1958-1958 – 1958-1958

Command of Summer Offensive

Cantillo commands Batista's major offensive against the Sierra Maestra guerrillas.

Role range: 1958-1958 – 1958-1958

Battle of La Plata

His offensive suffers a serious defeat at La Plata.

Role range: 1958-1958

Battalion 17 Withdrawal Ordered

Cantillo orders Battalion 17 to withdraw from its exposed mountain position.

Role range: 1958-1958 – 1958-1958

Battle of Las Mercedes Begins

Cantillo uses Battalion 17's withdrawal to draw rebel forces into a prepared trap.

Role range: 1958-1958 – 1958-1958

Battle of Las Mercedes Cease-Fire

General Eulogio Cantillo accepts a temporary cease-fire requested by Fidel Castro during the Battle of Las Mercedes; the rebels use the pause to withdraw.

Role range: 1958-1959

Operation Verano

Cantillo signs a secret armistice with the 26th of July movement, ending the Verano offensive

Role range: 1958-1959

Operation Verano

The failed offensive leaves Batista's army weakened.

Role range: 1958-1958

Operation Verano Fails

Cantillo's offensive ends without destroying Castro's guerrilla army.

Role range: 1958-1958 – 1958-1958

Las Mercedes Ceasefire

Cantillo accepts a temporary ceasefire proposed by Castro during the final battle.

Role range: 1958-1958 – 1958-1958

Temporary Ceasefire Accepted

Cantillo accepts the ceasefire request during negotiations at Las Mercedes.

Role range: 1958-1958 – 1958-1958

Secret Negotiations

Discusses a transition as Batista's regime collapses.

Role range: 1958-1958

Peace Effort After Batista Flight

After Batista leaves Cuba, Cantillo assumes command of the armed forces and tells the United States ambassador that he intends to seek peace with Castro's movement.

Birth of Eulogio Cantillo

Death of Euilogio Cantillo