Celia Sánchez

Infobox Person
name=Celia Sanchez


caption=
birth_date=May 9, 1920
birth_place=Manzanillo, Cuba
death_date=January 11, 1980
death_place=Cuba

Celia Sánchez Manduley (May 9, 1920 – January 11, 1980) was a participant of the Cuban Revolution and a close friend, and rumored lover of Fidel Castro. She was born in Media Luna [Ramonet, Ignacio, "Fidel Castro: My Life". Penguin Books: 2007, p. 681] , Granma Province, Cuba. Sánchez joined the struggle against the Batista government following the coup of 10 March 1952 and was one of the first members of the 26th of July Movement. [Ramonet, Ignacio, "ibid", p. 681] She was one of the first women to comprise a combat squad during the revolution.Fact|date=August 2008 During the revolution, she was tasked with making all the necessary arrangements throughout the southwest coast region of Cuba, for the Granma landing, and was responsible for organising reinforcements once the revolutionaries landed. [Ramonet, Ignacio, "ibid", p. 682] In 1957, she joined the guerillas, and served as messenger. Celia placed small telegrams inside a Butterly flower, that way the messages would remain in secret and would not be exposed to the enemy.

Sánchez was bestowed with the title of Secretary to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and served in the Department of Services of the Council of State until her death. The Celia Sánchez Memorial in Manzanillo honors her name.

References