![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.historydefined.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/CheHigh-1-799x1024.jpg\")
Early Life<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nErnest \u201cChe\u201d Guevara was born on June 14, 1928, in Argentina. His parents were Ernesto Guevara Lynch and Celia de la Serna y Llosa. He had four younger siblings, and the Guevaras were an upper-class family with Spanish and Irish ancestry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It wasn\u2019t until he became a revolutionary that he used the nickname \u201cChe,\u201d which he earned because of his propensity to use it. It is a common term in Latin American countries to get someone\u2019s attention. It is akin to saying, \u201cHey,\u201d \u201cmate,\u201d or \u201cmuddy.\u201d It can also be a filler term when talking like \u201cright\u201d or \u201cso.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Growing up, Che was interested in the life of revolutionaries and often sought to learn about Irish rebels. He also developed sympathy for the poor and vulnerable population, even as he grew up in a family with means. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.historydefined.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Che_Guevara_-_1_ano_-_1929.jpg\")
Che Guevara at 1 years old, 1929<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nHis introduction to politics came early, as his father Ernesto often hosted political meetings in their house. The patriarch supported the Republican side of the Spanish Civil War<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nChe had many interests aside from politics. Despite bouts of asthma, he was quite athletic and enjoyed swimming, football, and rugby. He also competed in local chess tournaments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Poetry was also a passion of his, citing Pablo Neruda, Walt Whitman, and Antonio Machado among his favorites. He was a wide reader and also enjoyed the writings of Karl Marx, William Faulkner, and Jules Verne<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAs he grew older, he pored over the words of Latin American writers like Horacio Quiroga, Jorge Icaza, and Miguel Asturias. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Birth of a Revolutionary<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nChe enrolled at the University of Buenos Aires to study medicine in 1948. However, he dropped out of school shortly before he completed his degree to travel around South America on his motorcycle. He embarked on an 8,000-mile drive for eight months<\/a> between 1951 and 1952 with a close friend, Alberto Granado. <\/p>\n\n\n\nIt was during his travels that he witnessed the inequalities in South America. He got a closer look at people living in poverty, which ignited his disdain for capitalism and drove him closer to communism<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nHe famously wrote in his memoir: \u201cI will be on the side of the people. I will take to the barricades and the trenches, screaming as one possessed, will stain my weapons with blood, and, mad with rage, will cut the throat of any vanquished foe I encounter.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
After his motorcycle adventure, Che completed his medical degree in 1953. Shortly after graduating, Che joined the Guatemalan Revolution instead of donning the white coat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Guatemalan Revolution of 1954<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nAt the time, President Jacobo Arbenz was a central figure in the 10-year Guatemalan Revolution. He maintained a democratic rule and introduced a model agrarian reform program that became influential across Latin America. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The problem with his program was that the United Fruit Company, a vast enterprise, would have to reduce its share of the land. And agrarian reform would not benefit those who maintained power because of their land ownership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because of this, Arbenz became an enemy of the United Fruit Company, wealthy Guatemalan landowners, and the army. Furthermore, the United States government, via the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), supported a group of rebels to destabilize Arbenz\u2019s government<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\nSeeing the good that Arbenz tried to do for Guatemala, Che helped form local militias to defend the government. However, the destabilizers were too strong, and Arbenz\u2019s government fell. Guevara fled the country and crossed to Mexico after seeking refuge before the Argentine Embassy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Che\u2019s anti-imperialism stance was only heightened by this situation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.historydefined.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Jacoboarbenz1950.jpg\")
President Jacobo \u00c1rbenz Guzm\u00e1n, 1951<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nMeeting Fidel and Raul Castro<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nIn Mexico City, Che met and married his first wife, Hilda Gaeda. She was a Peruvian economist and an intellectual fueled by communism.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Che also met the Castro Brothers of Cuba in Mexico City in 1955. He found that they shared the same ideologies: they had become communists with a deep hatred for Americans. Fidel and Raul Castro<\/a>\u2019s anti-imperialist principles stemmed from the injustice their father, Angel<\/a>, experienced at the hands of the Americans in their own country of Cuba.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nChe was impressed with Fidel and described him as \u201cextraordinary.\u201d They developed a friendship<\/a> that evolved from table chats to the frontlines of the successful Cuban Revolution in 1959.<\/p>\n\n\n\nChe became a Cuban citizen shortly after and divorced Gaeda to marry Aleida March, a Cuban. Che served as a prison executioner under Fidel Castro\u2019s government and oversaw the death of around 500 men who were convicted as traitors and spies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also held positions in the finance sector and became the head of the Ministry of Industry. This allowed him to travel the world, which was Fidel Castro\u2019s ploy to distance himself from Che\u2019s Marxist ideologies that many of his allies frowned upon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.historydefined.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Fidel_Castro_1950s.jpg\")
Fidel Castro, 1950s<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nPushback Against His Ideals<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhile traveling the world, Che made sure to draw attention to the oppression he encountered. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In his 1964 speech before the United Nations, speaking as the head of the Cuban delegation, he touched on many social issues:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Apartheid in South Africa<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Racism against Black people in the United States<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Hungry Indian masses<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Peasants without land<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Exploited workers<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Imperialism<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
There were two attempts on Che\u2019s life during this trip. Two Cuban exiles headed these attacks, and both failed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His final trip as Cuban ambassador was in Africa in 1965. When he returned to Cuba, he disappeared from the public eye. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was speculated that he had huge disagreements with Fidel Castro, who was more pragmatic as a leader. Castro was eventually forced to make a public statement that Che would make his whereabouts known when he wanted to.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On October 3, 1965, Fidel Castro released Che\u2019s undated \u201cfarewell letter\u201d telling of his intention to leave Cuba, resign from all his government positions, and renounce his Cuban citizenship. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Famed Revolutionary<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhen he left Cuba, Che already had a strong reputation as a revolutionary leader. Many countries would invite him for public speeches as they wanted to hear his thoughts on various world crises. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Congo Conflict<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nChe had traveled to Africa<\/a> many times while he was Cuba\u2019s Minister of Industry. He believed that Africa would be the United States\u2019 Achilles heel. <\/p>\n\n\n\nCuba helped liberate Algeria in 1961 by providing them with American weapons seized from a failed coup against Fidel Castro. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 1965, Che went to Congo to help with the chaos caused by warring politicians. He was highly critical of the interference of the United States and Belgium, whose governments ruled over Congo throughout the domestic conflict. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Guevara planned to lead a guerilla in Congo to overthrow the American- and Belgian-backed government. The plan failed, and Guevara secretly returned to Cuba. He went in and out of Cuba clandestinely since the \u201cfarewell letter\u201d had been publicized. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.historydefined.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Che_Guevara-1024x687.jpg\")
Che Guevara at his office as Minister of Industry, while being interviewed by Laura Berquist for\u00a0Look<\/em>\u00a0magazine. 1963<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOne Socialist Latin America<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nOne of Che\u2019s dreams was to establish a united socialist Latin America. He shared this plan with former Argentine president Juan Peron<\/a>, who was exiled in Spain. Peron wasn\u2019t keen on this plan. <\/p>\n\n\n\nHowever, Che was adamant about his mission. He sought to start his dream IN Bolivia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bolivian Insurgency<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
His introduction to politics came early, as his father Ernesto often hosted political meetings in their house. The patriarch supported the Republican side of the Spanish Civil War<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Che had many interests aside from politics. Despite bouts of asthma, he was quite athletic and enjoyed swimming, football, and rugby. He also competed in local chess tournaments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Poetry was also a passion of his, citing Pablo Neruda, Walt Whitman, and Antonio Machado among his favorites. He was a wide reader and also enjoyed the writings of Karl Marx, William Faulkner, and Jules Verne<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As he grew older, he pored over the words of Latin American writers like Horacio Quiroga, Jorge Icaza, and Miguel Asturias. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Che enrolled at the University of Buenos Aires to study medicine in 1948. However, he dropped out of school shortly before he completed his degree to travel around South America on his motorcycle. He embarked on an 8,000-mile drive for eight months<\/a> between 1951 and 1952 with a close friend, Alberto Granado. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It was during his travels that he witnessed the inequalities in South America. He got a closer look at people living in poverty, which ignited his disdain for capitalism and drove him closer to communism<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n He famously wrote in his memoir: \u201cI will be on the side of the people. I will take to the barricades and the trenches, screaming as one possessed, will stain my weapons with blood, and, mad with rage, will cut the throat of any vanquished foe I encounter.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n After his motorcycle adventure, Che completed his medical degree in 1953. Shortly after graduating, Che joined the Guatemalan Revolution instead of donning the white coat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the time, President Jacobo Arbenz was a central figure in the 10-year Guatemalan Revolution. He maintained a democratic rule and introduced a model agrarian reform program that became influential across Latin America. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The problem with his program was that the United Fruit Company, a vast enterprise, would have to reduce its share of the land. And agrarian reform would not benefit those who maintained power because of their land ownership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because of this, Arbenz became an enemy of the United Fruit Company, wealthy Guatemalan landowners, and the army. Furthermore, the United States government, via the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), supported a group of rebels to destabilize Arbenz\u2019s government<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Seeing the good that Arbenz tried to do for Guatemala, Che helped form local militias to defend the government. However, the destabilizers were too strong, and Arbenz\u2019s government fell. Guevara fled the country and crossed to Mexico after seeking refuge before the Argentine Embassy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Che\u2019s anti-imperialism stance was only heightened by this situation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In Mexico City, Che met and married his first wife, Hilda Gaeda. She was a Peruvian economist and an intellectual fueled by communism.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Che also met the Castro Brothers of Cuba in Mexico City in 1955. He found that they shared the same ideologies: they had become communists with a deep hatred for Americans. Fidel and Raul Castro<\/a>\u2019s anti-imperialist principles stemmed from the injustice their father, Angel<\/a>, experienced at the hands of the Americans in their own country of Cuba.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Che was impressed with Fidel and described him as \u201cextraordinary.\u201d They developed a friendship<\/a> that evolved from table chats to the frontlines of the successful Cuban Revolution in 1959.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Che became a Cuban citizen shortly after and divorced Gaeda to marry Aleida March, a Cuban. Che served as a prison executioner under Fidel Castro\u2019s government and oversaw the death of around 500 men who were convicted as traitors and spies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n He also held positions in the finance sector and became the head of the Ministry of Industry. This allowed him to travel the world, which was Fidel Castro\u2019s ploy to distance himself from Che\u2019s Marxist ideologies that many of his allies frowned upon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While traveling the world, Che made sure to draw attention to the oppression he encountered. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In his 1964 speech before the United Nations, speaking as the head of the Cuban delegation, he touched on many social issues:<\/p>\n\n\n\n There were two attempts on Che\u2019s life during this trip. Two Cuban exiles headed these attacks, and both failed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His final trip as Cuban ambassador was in Africa in 1965. When he returned to Cuba, he disappeared from the public eye. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It was speculated that he had huge disagreements with Fidel Castro, who was more pragmatic as a leader. Castro was eventually forced to make a public statement that Che would make his whereabouts known when he wanted to.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n On October 3, 1965, Fidel Castro released Che\u2019s undated \u201cfarewell letter\u201d telling of his intention to leave Cuba, resign from all his government positions, and renounce his Cuban citizenship. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When he left Cuba, Che already had a strong reputation as a revolutionary leader. Many countries would invite him for public speeches as they wanted to hear his thoughts on various world crises. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Che had traveled to Africa<\/a> many times while he was Cuba\u2019s Minister of Industry. He believed that Africa would be the United States\u2019 Achilles heel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Cuba helped liberate Algeria in 1961 by providing them with American weapons seized from a failed coup against Fidel Castro. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In 1965, Che went to Congo to help with the chaos caused by warring politicians. He was highly critical of the interference of the United States and Belgium, whose governments ruled over Congo throughout the domestic conflict. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Guevara planned to lead a guerilla in Congo to overthrow the American- and Belgian-backed government. The plan failed, and Guevara secretly returned to Cuba. He went in and out of Cuba clandestinely since the \u201cfarewell letter\u201d had been publicized. <\/p>\n\n\n\n One of Che\u2019s dreams was to establish a united socialist Latin America. He shared this plan with former Argentine president Juan Peron<\/a>, who was exiled in Spain. Peron wasn\u2019t keen on this plan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, Che was adamant about his mission. He sought to start his dream IN Bolivia. <\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Birth of a Revolutionary<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Guatemalan Revolution of 1954<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Meeting Fidel and Raul Castro<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Pushback Against His Ideals<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Famed Revolutionary<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Congo Conflict<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
One Socialist Latin America<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Bolivian Insurgency<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.historydefined.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Che_Guevara_-_Familia.jpg\")