Capture of Santiago
Santiago de Cuba surrenders as Batista's regime collapses.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1959 in Cuba
Explore 54 historical events and records for Cuba in 1959.
Historical records for Cuba in 1959
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 54 unique records.
54Unique records
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30Named events on this page
12Named people on this page
5Places on this page
January
Capture of Santiago
Takes control of Santiago after Batista flees.
Capture of Santiago
Surrenders Santiago without a major fight.
Capture of Santiago
Santiago de Cuba surrenders as Batista's regime collapses.
Flight from Cuba
Flees Cuba as the revolution succeeds.
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.
Revolutionary General Strike
After Batista leaves Cuba, Castro calls for a general strike while the 26th of July Movement demands the army's unconditional surrender and a revolutionary transfer of power.
Revolutionary Victory
Overthrown by Fidel Castro
Revolutionary Victory
Castro's forces enter Havana after Batista flees Cuba.
Entry into Havana
Enters Havana as Batista's army collapses.
Victory Caravan
Begins the victory caravan from Santiago toward Havana.
Provisional Government
Becomes provisional president after Batista's fall.
Prime Minister
Serves briefly as prime minister after the revolution.
Arrival in Havana
Arrives in Havana after the revolutionary victory.
Commander in Chief
Assumes command of the revolutionary armed forces.
Revolutionary Victory
Castro arrives in Havana to cheering mobs and assumes the post of Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces
Camaguey Command
Commands rebel forces in Camaguey after victory.
Havana Victory Parade
Matos takes part in the revolutionary victory procession into Havana alongside Castro and other rebel commanders after Batista's departure.
Revolutionary Army
Becomes a senior commander in the revolutionary army.
Revolutionary Government
Continues revolutionary work after Batista's overthrow.
Revolutionary Government
Becomes a close organiser within Castro's revolutionary circle.
February
Inauguration
Miro unexpectedly resigns & Castro is sworn in as Prime Minister of Cuba
Prime Minister
Becomes prime minister of the new revolutionary government.
Prime Minister of Cuba
Miro unexpectedly resigns & Castro is sworn in as Prime Minister of Cuba
Resignation of Miro
Miro unexpectedly resigns & Castro is sworn in as Prime Minister of Cuba
Agreement on Buy oil from the USSR
Cuba signs an agreement to buy oil from the USSR
Economy of Cuba
US refineries in Cuba refuse to process Cuban oil, they are expropriated, & the US breaks off diplomatic relations with the Castro Government. Cuba signs an agreement to buy oil from the USSR
Nationalization
US refineries in Cuba refuse to process Cuban oil, they are expropriated, & the US breaks off diplomatic relations with the Castro Government
April
Execution
Summary executions of suspected Batista collaborators and members of the opposition through the "paredones" take place after show trials
Meeting with With the Cuban leader
Castro flies to Washington DC but was not met by President Eisenhower, who decides to attend a golf tournament rather than meet with the Cuban leader
May
Agrarian Reform Law
Castro signs the First Agrarian Reform Law, which expropriates over 1,000 acres of farmlands & forbids foreign land ownership
Legislation
Castro signs the First Agrarian Reform Law, which expropriates over 1,000 acres of farmlands & forbids foreign land ownership
Nationalization
Signs the First Agrarian Reform Law limiting large estates and expropriating land
Nationalization
Castro signs the First Agrarian Reform Law, which expropriates over 1,000 acres of farmlands & forbids foreign land ownership
Reform of Land Ownership
Castro signs the First Agrarian Reform Law, which expropriates over 1,000 acres of farmlands & forbids foreign land ownership
October
Independence of Cuba
Cuba celebrates October 10th as the first declaration of independence after the day Castro and his army enter Havana, January 1, 1959, as "the triumph of the revolution"
Other events (month unknown)
26th of July Movement
The 26th of July Movement, led by Fidel Castro, becomes the dominant revolutionary force that helps overthrow Fulgencio Batista's government in January 1959.
Agreement on Buy oil from the USSR
Castro flies to Washington DC but was not met by President Eisenhower, who decides to attend a golf tournament rather than meet with the Cuban leader. Cuba signs an agreement to buy oil from the USSR.
Break in Diplomatic Relations with The Castro Government
US refineries in Cuba refuse to process Cuban oil, they are expropriated, & the US breaks off diplomatic relations with the Castro Government.
Committee of Defence of the Revolution
The USSR sends over one hundred mostly Spanish speaking advisers, including Enrique Lister Forjan, to organize the Committee's for the Defence of the Revolution
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.