July 26 movement

[SittingBull47]

What is this rebel organization? I know i should know this, but I forgot the little bit I've read about it. What is it and how did it relate to Che? Can anybody help me out?

[Alejandro C]

The july 26 movement or m-26-7, was kind of a political party or at least a political organization that was started by Fidel. the date was the day in 1953 when fidel and the movement tried to take over the government by storming an army barracks at moncado. most members were arrested and or killed, including fidel who spent 2 years in prison. After fidel gets out of jail he flees to mexico where m-26-7 regroups to launch the cuban revolution. it was there in mexico that fidel met Che, who agreed to join the movement and the fight as a doctor. in 56 they sail to cuba and start the guerilla war. at that time the m-26-7 was essentially split in two. Fidel led the guerilla movement in the sierra madre mountains and a man named Frank Pais led the movement in the cities organizing funds and arms as well as urban uprisings. later Frank Pais is dissilusioned by what he calls a communist takeover of the movement and leaves. by that time Fidel had a strong enough base in the mountains that he could afford to get rid of Pais who was before an essential part of the operation. that's more or less the history of the movement, cuban army still wears the m-26-7 patch on their arms though there is no real m-26-7 organization anymore, its more symbolic.