The National Revolutionary Militia ( es, Milicias Nacionales Revolucionarias) (MNR) is a citizens’ militia in the
Republic of Cuba
Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbean ...
. It was founded in 1959 in the aftermath of the
Cuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution ( es, Revolución Cubana) was carried out after the 1952 Cuban coup d'état which placed Fulgencio Batista as head of state and the failed mass strike in opposition that followed. After failing to contest Batista in cou ...
to protect buildings against sabotage from counter-revolutionary armed groups and any external threat of intervention. Under the command of
Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces
The Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces ( es, Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias; FAR) are the military forces of Cuba. They include ground forces, naval forces, air and air defence forces, and other paramilitary bodies including the Territorial Tro ...
(FAR), it was a voluntary group which served as a way to ensure widespread participation in the revolution. While MNR members were often assigned noncombat tasks, they played an important role on the frontline during the
Bay of Pigs invasion
The Bay of Pigs Invasion (, sometimes called ''Invasión de Playa Girón'' or ''Batalla de Playa Girón'' after the Playa Girón) was a failed military landing operation on the southwestern coast of Cuba in 1961 by Cuban exiles, covertly fina ...
in 1961 and defeating the 1958-1965 counterrevolutionary guerrilla movements in the
Escambray mountains
The Escambray Mountains () are a mountain range in the central region of Cuba, in the provinces of Sancti Spíritus, Cienfuegos and Villa Clara.
Overview
The Escambray Mountains are located in the south-central region of the island, extending a ...
.
[{{cite book , last1=Bethell , first1=Leslie , title=Cuba : a short history , date=1993 , publisher=Cambridge University Press , location=Cambridge ngland, isbn=0521436826]
History
The militias have their origins in a ceremony celebrated in front of the Presidential Palace (presently the
Museum of the Revolution) in
Havana
Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center. on 22 March 1959. There, Cuban prime minister
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (; ; 13 August 1926 – 25 November 2016) was a Cuban revolutionary and politician who was the leader of Cuba from 1959 to 2008, serving as the prime minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976 and president from 1976 to 200 ...
proposed creating the Voluntary Popular Militias, in response to the popular call to prepare citizens militarily to defend the Revolution; the idea definitely took shape in the NRM. On 16 April of each year, Cuba celebrates Militiaman Day, in honor of the combatants of this organization who on the same date in 1961, defended the socialist character of the
Cuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution ( es, Revolución Cubana) was carried out after the 1952 Cuban coup d'état which placed Fulgencio Batista as head of state and the failed mass strike in opposition that followed. After failing to contest Batista in cou ...
, that Fidel Castro had proclaimed on 1 January 1959. On 17 April 1961, together with mobilized servicemen of the
Cuban Revolutionary Army
The Cuban Revolutionary Army ( es, Ejército Revolucionario) serve as the ground forces of Cuba. Formed in 1868 during the Ten Years' War, it was originally known as the Cuban Constitutional Army. Following the Cuban Revolution, the revolutiona ...
and the National Revolutionary Police, the militias confronted and defeated in less than 72 hours 1,500 counter-revolutionaries whom the United States financed, armed and trained to invade Cuba at
Playa Girón
:''Note: "Playa Girón" is also the title of a song included in the album " Días y Flores", by Silvio Rodriguez.''
Playa Girón (; "Girón beach") is a beach and village on the east bank of the Bahia de Cochinos (Bay of Pigs), which is located i ...
(Giron beach), in what became known as the
Bay of Pigs Invasion
The Bay of Pigs Invasion (, sometimes called ''Invasión de Playa Girón'' or ''Batalla de Playa Girón'' after the Playa Girón) was a failed military landing operation on the southwestern coast of Cuba in 1961 by Cuban exiles, covertly fina ...
.
University Militias
These were actually founded on 26 October 1959, when Fidel Castro raised the need to create the National Revolutionary Militias. The university people, who had attended the event in front of the Presidential Palace, from there set out toward the Hill and the coffee shop of the house of higher studies, between refreshments, with notebook sheets turned into enlistment forms, agreed that the University Militia be named the José Antonio Echeverría Brigade.
After weeks of training, on 27 November 1959, uniformed in wine-red shirts, gray pants and black
beret
A beret ( or ; ; eu, txapela, ) is a soft, round, flat-crowned cap, usually of woven, hand-knitted wool, crocheted cotton, wool felt, or acrylic fibre.
Mass production of berets began in 19th century France and Spain, and the beret remains ...
s, armed with the
M1 Garand
The M1 Garand or M1 rifleOfficially designated as U.S. rifle, caliber .30, M1, later simply called Rifle, Caliber .30, M1, also called US Rifle, Cal. .30, M1 is a semi-automatic rifle that was the service rifle of the U.S Army during World War ...
] rifle that Fidel had sent them, the boys at the University Student Federation (USF) returned to the Escalanita en masse. A whistle was heard and a squad of girls began to perform evolutions. In its journey through San Lázaro street up to the La Punta monument, the student militiamen were applauded by the people. This parade went on to become the catalyst of large scale popular enthusiasm for the constitution of the National Revolutionary Militias.
The graduation of the University Militia in January 1960 was done with an ascent up
Pico Turquino
Pico Turquino (), sometimes erroneously spelled as Pico Torquino, is the highest point in Cuba. It is located in the southeast part of the island, in the Sierra Maestra mountain range in the municipality of Guamá, Santiago de Cuba Province. Etym ...
, where they were joined by Fidel Castro,
Celia Sánchez and other revolutionary leaders.
The University Militias then became the 154th Battalion of the National Revolutionary Militias, consisting of students, professors and workers. Presently this unit is known as the 154th Regiment of the Territorial Militia Troops.
See also
*
Territorial Troops Militia
The Territorial Troops Militia (Milicias de Tropas Territoriales - MTT), is a Cuban paramilitary militia composed exclusively of civilian volunteers. It was established on May 1, 1980, and placed under the command of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed ...
—another organization formed in 1986 with the same objectives, but subordinate to the Revolutionary Armed Forces.
References
Milicias Nacionales Revolucionarias (MNR)
Paramilitary organizations based in Cuba