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Line 1: − The Bay of Pigs (Bahía de Cochinos) is a small bay on the Southern coast of [[Cuba]]. It is most noted as the location of a failed US-planned and supported invasion of Cuba by Cuban exiles to overthrow the government of [[Fidel Castro]] in 1961.+ − After Castro had taken over power in Cuba in 1959, American-Cuban relations had deteriorated rapidly. Both the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations judged that the existence of a communist state close the US could not be tolerated, and began planning to overthrow Castro.+ − Groups of Cuban exiles were trained and equipped by the CIA in Guatemala and Florida to land on Cuba and march on Havana or start a guerilla war. Castro, however, had been warned by the KGB that an invasion was imminent and was prepared to fight off the invaders. − On April 15, 1961 B-26 bombers started to attack air fields on Cuba in an attempt to wipe out the Cuban air force and establish air superiority, but due to political decisions and communication mishaps the bombing was halted before these goals could be achieved.+ − Despite this setback, the invasion went on as planned and on April 17, 1,500 Cuban exiles landed in the Bay of Pigs. After establishing a beachhead they moved inland and encountered heavy opposition from Cuban militia forces. Losses among the Cuban forces were very high due to the superior firepower and close air support from the B-26 bombers. However, the invaders soon ran out of supplies and were forced back to the beach, where they surrendered on April 21. They had hoped for an American intervention, but president Kennedy did not want to risk an all-out war and abandoned the invaders. Also the popular support, predicted by the CIA, the invaders would meet among the Cuban population failed to materialize. − On December 29, 1962 the survivors of the invasion force were returned to the US.+ − Popular support for Castro in Cuba soared a result of the invasion, and the increasing ties between Cuba and the [[Soviet Union]] would trigger the [[Cuban Missile Crisis]] in 1962.+ + + + + +
Reverted edits by Arctic Nation (Talk); changed back to last version by RobS
Bay of Pigs is the name of the failed liberation landing on Cuba in 1961. A group of Cuban patriots landed in Bay of Pigs in the island of Cuba to liberate the nation from Castro. The idea was to repeat the same landing that Castro did in the past.
The planning for this liberation landing started under the Eisenhower presidency. Unfortunately his term ended before it was put into action. Kennedy inherited the project, and kept it going.
The Americans kept saying that they were not going to participate in the invasion, but they did help with training, weapons, and intelligence. Even though Americans kept repeating that they were not going to help directly, most of the Cuban freedom fighters assumed that Americans would change their mind and fight against Communism.
In Miami, the CIA was organizing the new government. The training for the freedom fighters took place in a plantation in Guatemala.
People in charge of the liberation kept asking Kennedy for direct involvement and more resources. Unfortunately, Kennedy lost his nerve and took resources away and demanded no direct American intervention.
The landing was hurried. The idea was that the people in Cuba will rise to arms once they learned about the liberation forces landing. Yet tragedy happened. The insurgency didn't happen. And the people near the beach, instead of receiving the liberators, began to attack them as enemies.
Castro quickly moved his Soviet tanks and planes to the landing site. Although the Cubans patriots fought heroically and better than the communist Cubans, the bigger numbers and lack of supply line brought an end to the invasion. Many died and many were captured.
This incident triggered the [[Cuban Missile Crisis]]
[[Category:United States History]]
[[Category:United States History]]