Fidel Castro, the former leader of Cuba, is one of the most controversial figures of the 20th century. From his rise to power in the Cuban Revolution to his role in the Cold War, Castro’s life and legacy have been the subject of intense debate and discussion. Love him or hate him, there’s no denying that Castro was a charismatic and influential leader who had a profound impact on the world. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at Fidel Castro, exploring some of the most interesting and little-known facts about his life, beliefs, and legacy. From his early years as a rebel leader to his later years as a revolutionary icon, we’ll delve into the many facets of this complex and enigmatic figure. Get ready to learn more about one of the most-fascinating figures of our time.
1-5 Fun Facts About Fidel Castro
1. Born on Friday the 13th, Fidel Castro was never one to follow the norm. He was always been a rebel!
2. In 1940, 12-year-old Fidel Castro wrote a letter to President F. Roosevelt requested a $10 bill because he had never seen one before. Adorable!
3. Fidel Castro faced assassination plots, an invasion, and five decades of economic sanctions but still managed to hold on to power.
4. Fidel Castro led Cuba for five decades and was the world’s third longest-serving head of state, behind only Queen Elizabeth II and King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Castro deserves to be called King. I mean, going from requesting a $10 bill because he had never seen it to the world’s third longest-serving head of state is just the most bada*s sh*t.
5. The CIA tried to get crafty with their methods to take down Fidel, including a plan to make him beardless with a hair-removal chemical. Talk about going to extremes!
6-10 Interesting Facts About Fidel Castro
6. Fidel Castro gave the longest speech in United Nations history, lasting 4 hours and 29 minutes. If you need to hear someone talk for that long, Fidel’s your guy!
7. The CIA operation to invade Cuba and take down Castro was dubbed “Operation Castration.” Gotta say it’s a fitting name for a plan that was castrated before it even began!
8. Fidel Castro’s funeral procession retraced the steps of the “Freedom Caravan” from Havana to Santiago de Cuba.
9. In 2007, the CIA released documents that revealed their collaboration with the Italian mafia in a failed 1960 attempt to assassinate Fidel Castro. Talk about a recipe for mafia-style disaster!
10. There is only one kosher butcher in Cuba. Fidel Castro personally allowed him to stay and serve the 1,500 Judaism-practicing Cubans.
11-15 Surprising Facts About Fidel Castro
11. Fidel Castro named his three sons after Alexander the Great – Alexis, Alejandro, and Alexander.
12. When Fidel took over Cuba, he ordered all Monopoly games to be destroyed. He took no chances with capitalism!
13. Nelson Mandela and Fidel Castro co-wrote a book together.
14. Fidel Castro didn’t believe in creating a cult of personality, so no streets, buildings, or institutions were named after him in Cuba.
15. Fidel Castro’s dad fought against Cuban independence in the Spanish Army. An interesting family indeed!
16-20 Awesome Facts About Fidel Castro
16. Fidel Castro turned Cuba into the first Communist country in the Western Hemisphere. He’s a trailblazer!
17. He started wearing a beard as a young revolutionary living in the mountains. It was not merely a symbol of the guerrilla fighter; Castro had practical reasons. “If you calculate 15 minutes a day to shave, that is 5,000 minutes a year spent shaving,” he said, adding that he would rather spend his time on more important activities.
18. Fidel Castro took personal responsibility for the persecution of homosexuals in Cuba. We’ll let that one speak for itself.
19. Fidel Castro used to love chomping on Cuban cigars but gave them up in 1985. Years later, he recommended giving them to your enemies as the best thing to do with them.
20. Fidel Castro claimed to have survived 634 assassination attempts, including poison pills, a toxic cigar, exploding mollusks, and even a chemically tainted diving suit.
That’s it for this post guys, I hope you had fun while reading 20 Interesting Fidel Castro Facts For Kids.
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