How Fidel Castro’s Revolution Promised Freedom — and Became a Nightmare

DW History and Culture September 21, 2025
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DW History and Culture takes a deep dive into both the big and small questions around art and culture, bringing to life the historical moments which shape our present and future. Subscribe to DW History and Culture and dig deeper. DW History And Culture is created in cooperation with the departments DW Culture and Documentaries and DW Design, Visual and Archives. For more visit: https://www.dw.com/en/culture/s-1441 Please follow DW's netiquette: https://p.dw.com/p/MF1G

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In 1959, Fidel Castro overthrew Fulgencio Batista, a brutal dictator — and became one himself. He promised democracy, but never held free elections. He denied being a communist — until it was too late to stop him. With Che Guevara by his side, he built a regime of surveillance, censorship, and televised executions. Millions fled. Others stayed — and were silenced. US historian Lillian Guerra, exiled writer and journalist Amir Valle from Cuba, and DW journalist Jaime González Arguedas reveal how a fight for freedom became a dictatorship. From the Bay of Pigs to the Missile Crisis, from revolutionary hope to economic collapse. Was it ever about the people — or just about power? Script: Laura Iglesias San Martín & Jaime González Arguedas Video Editing: Mariano Ramírez Gisbert  Host: David Levitz  0:00-0:53 Intro 0:54-12:39 Part 1: FROM ONE EMPIRE’S CONTROL... TO ANOTHER 12:40-30:11 Part 2: REPRESSION IN REVERSE 30:12-31:58 Part 3: CAPTIVES WITHOUT HOPE #dwunmaskingrevolutions #unmaskingrevolutions #dwhistoryandculture #dwhistoryexplained For more visit: https://www.dw.com/culture/ Please follow DW's netiquette: https://p.dw.com/p/MF1GFor more visit: https://www.dw.com/en/culture/s-1441 Please follow DW's netiquette: https://p.dw.com/p/MF1G

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