Battle of Santa Clara
| Battle of Santa Clara | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Cuban Revolution | |||||||
Che Guevara, after the battle of Santa Clara, 1 January 1959 | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Republic of Cuba |
26th of July Movement Second National Front of Escambray Directorio Revolucionario | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Col. Joaquín Casillas Police Chief Cornelio Rojas Col. Fernandez Suero Col. Candido Hernandez |
Che Guevara Rolando Cubela Roberto Rodríguez † Antonio Núñez Jiménez William Alexander Morgan | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
|
Leoncio Vidal Regiment 31 Regiment | Unknown | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
|
3,900 soldiers 10 tanks 1 armoured train 7 B-26 medium bombers | 340 guerrillas | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
2,900 captured 1 armoured train destroyed | Unknown | ||||||
The Battle of Santa Clara was a series of events in late December 1958 that led to the capture of the Cuban city of Santa Clara by rebel forces under the command of Che Guevara at the end of the Cuban Revolution. A decisive victory for the rebels who fought against the regime of General Fulgencio Batista, the battle culminated in the Triumph of the Revolution. Within 12 hours of the city's capture, Batista fled Cuba, and Fidel Castro's forces claimed overall victory.