Difference between revisions of "Bay of Pigs invasion"
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| − | Bay of Pigs is the | + | 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. | |
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[[Category:United States History]] | [[Category:United States History]] | ||
Revision as of 20:20, May 17, 2007
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.