After the triumph of the Revolution on January 1st, 1959, the revolutionary government set the goal to work hard for the good of humanity.
The people shared the task of construction and reconstruction of a society in which everyone would be equal with the same rights and duties.
But on the other hand, the northern neighbors-not very pleased with the steps being taken by the Cuban Revolution, proposed hinder the revolutionary process.
Still, celebrating the victory of October 21st, 1959, the Cuban people received the unexpected visit of an American plane, piloted by Pedro Luis Diaz Lanz, this episode took the lives of two people and fifty were wounded.
Likewise the imperialists, were given the task of attacking otherwise the Revolution: state terrorism, espionage and subversion, assassination plans of their leaders and the promotion of the counter, besides kidnapping Cuban fishing boats.
But as Cubans we are, we are known: INDEPENDENCE AND SOVEREIGNTY, that our forefathers taught us, the Foreign Ministry accused the CIA, to organize, and direct pay sabotage against Cuba.
On October 26th,1959 the polical directorate, called on the square of the Presidential Palace, where thousands turned out, and at that place Camilo Cienfuegos said: "To stop the Cuban revolution, first has to die a whole town and if that were to happen come true the Bonifacio Byrne verses:
"Si deshecha en menudos pedazos
llega a ser mi bandera algún día,
nuestros muertos, alzando los brazos,
la sabrán, defender todavía."
A whole nation applauded the Yaguajay man, that was his last speech, too, that day, our Commander in Chief Fidel Castro, suggested the idea of creating the National Revolutionary Militia.
Thus was born the troop of people who struggle to defend what belongs to us in its own right. Peasants, women, children, young and old took their rifle to defend the homeland. Initially organized by social sectors, ie workers militias, peasant, and student. These classes received infantry detachments, arm and disarm guards and made workplaces and prioritized objectives.
By March 1960, less than five months of created the MNR, about half a million men and women were organized into their ranks. On March 4th was sabotaged the French steamer La Coubre in Havana bay, in the moments when unloaded weapons and ammunition purchased in Europe. More than a hundred dead among Cuban and French was the grim toll of that aggression.
As a strategy, the Commander in Chief Fidel Castro, decided to reorganize the militia detachments with a tactical sense and convert it in territorial combat battalions. Rifles, machine guns, mortars and artillery and antiaircraft ground, from the socialist countries began entering the Cuban ports and in race against time indulged in the newly formed batteries, companies and battalions.
When on April 17th the mercenary brigade landed at Playa Larga and Playa Giron was immediately countered by local militias. The members of the MNR constituted the majority of the infantry troops and all the provisions of the land artillery batteries and anti-aircraft involved in the battle. Along with special columns combat, tank and PNR battalion, whose fighters were from the Rebel Army and the underground struggle, the militias played the role assigned by Fidel as fighting force in defense of the Revolution.
The role of the militias was a worthy example of what is now known in our country, as the war of all the people.
