On this day in 1961, about 1500 far-right Cuban exiles trained, financed, and supported by the CIA tried to invade Cuba, landing in Playa Girón, to “recover” Cuba for the US imperialist benefit. They also planned to kill Fidel Castro and destroy the popular Cuban Revolution.

The Cuban Revolutionary Army, directly led from the front lines by Fidel Castro, repelled the attack in less than three days.

Hundreds of the mercenaries trying to invade Cuba were captured and were identified as former plantation owners or members of the army of the former bloody US-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista.