Brigade 2506 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brigade 2506 |
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| Active | May 1960 – December 1962 |
| Country |  Cuba |
| Type | State-sponsored paramilitary organization |
| Role | Guerrilla warfare |
| Size | 1,511 |
| Garrison/HQ | JMTrax, Guatemala |
| Motto(s) | Overthrow Fidel Castro |
| Engagements | |
| Insignia | |
| Brigade flag |  |
Brigade 2506 was a group of Cuban exiles. They were supported by the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) in the United States. Their main goal was to try and remove Fidel Castro from power in Cuba. This group is most known for its part in the Bay of Pigs Invasion in April 1961. This was a failed attempt to land in Cuba and start a rebellion.
Contents
What was Brigade 2506?
The group was formed in 1960. It was named Brigade 2506 after a member, Carlos Santana Estevez, who died during training. He had the membership number 2506. The brigade had about 1,500 members. They trained in Guatemala to prepare for their mission.
Leaders of the Brigade
Several important people led Brigade 2506.
- Manuel Francisco Artime Buesa was the political leader.
- José Alfredo Pérez San Román was the main military commander.
- Erneido Andrés Oliva González was the second-in-command for military operations.
- Manuel Villafaña Martínez led the air force part of the brigade.
The Bay of Pigs Invasion
On April 17, 1961, Brigade 2506 launched its attack on Cuba. About 1,300 men traveled by sea from Guatemala. Nearly all of them landed in Cuba. An additional 177 paratroopers landed from the air.
The invasion did not go as planned. Many members of the brigade were captured. About 114 members died during the fighting. The remaining 1,183 were taken prisoner.
After the Invasion
The captured members of Brigade 2506 were put in prison in Cuba. Later, private groups in the United States worked to get them released. They offered $53 million worth of food and medicine in exchange for the prisoners.
The prisoners began to be released and sent back to Miami, Florida, starting on December 23, 1962. On December 29, 1962, U.S. President John F. Kennedy welcomed the returning veterans at the Orange Bowl in Miami.
Some members of Brigade 2506 later created the Brigade 2506 Veterans' Association. This group now owns the Bay of Pigs Museum & Library in Miami.
See also
In Spanish: Brigada de Asalto 2506 para niños
- Cuban dissident movement
- James B. Donovan
- Escambray rebellion
