Ernesto 'Che' Guevara

Ernesto "Che" Guevara (1928–1967) was an Argentine Marxist revolutionary whose motorcycle journey through Latin America as a medical student radicalised him against U.S. imperialism and endemic poverty. He joined Fidel Castro's rebel force in Mexico in 1955, became one of the key commanders of the Cuban Revolution (1956–1959), and served as Minister of Industry and president of the National Bank, overseeing Cuba's socialist transformation. Believing revolution must be exported, he left Cuba in 1965 to lead a failed intervention in Congo, then mounted a guerrilla campaign in Bolivia. He was captured by Bolivian forces — assisted by CIA advisors — and executed at La Higuera on 9 October 1967. His death transformed him into a global icon of leftist rebellion whose image became the most reproduced political portrait of the 20th century.

• Lived: 1928 CE – 1967 CE
• Nationality: Argentine-Cuban
• Roles: revolutionary, guerrilla_leader, government_minister

Related

• The Cold War
• The Cuban Revolution — Fall of Batista and Rise of Castro
• Bay of Pigs Invasion — Failed CIA-Sponsored Operation
• Cuban Missile Crisis
• Che Guevara's Bolivian Campaign and Capture