NCJ Number
62910
Editor(s)
D JAMES
Date Published
1968
Length
350 pages
Annotation
DOCUMENTS CAPTURED BY THE BOLIVIAN ARMY TELL OF PERSONAL FEELINGS, DIFFICULTIES OF GUERRILLA LIFE, AND RELATIONS OF CHE GUEVARA'S GROUP WITH OTHER COMMUNIST GROUPS IN BOLIVIA FROM 1966 TO 1967.
Abstract
THE DIARIES OF CHE GUEVARA DATE FROM NOVEMBER 7 TO DECEMBER 31, 1966, AND FROM JANUARY 1 TO OCTOBER 8, 1967. ALSO INCLUDED ARE DIARIES OF ROLANDO, ONE OF CHE'S LIEUTENANTS, AND THOSE OF POMBO AND BRAULIO, OTHER MEMBERS OF CHE'S GROUP. A LENGTHY INTRODUCTION TO THE DIARIES GIVES CHE'S REVOLUTIONARY BACKGROUND, ACTIVITIES IN CUBA, A BRIEF CONTEMPORARY HISTORY OF BOLIVIA, AND THE COURSE OF THE MILITARY AND POLITICAL ASPECTS OF THE BOLIVIAN CAMPAIGN. THE AIM OF CHE'S INSURRECTIONARY EXPEDITION TO BOLIVIA (FALL 1966) WAS TO CREATE SUFFICIENT TROUBLE FOR THE BOLIVIAN GOVERNMENT SO THAT IT WOULD BE FORCED TO ASK FOR SUBSTANTIAL AMERICAN INVOLVEMENT. THIS WOULD INFLAME MODERATE AND OTHER LEFTIST AND COMMUNIST GROUPS IN BOLIVIA, BOG AMERICA DOWN IN ANOTHER 'VIETNAM,' AND LEAD TO CONTINENTAL REVOLUTION. OTHER TOPICS ADDRESSED IN THE DIARIES INCLUDE BATTLE DESCRIPTIONS, A CHRONOLOGY OF THE WHEREABOUTS OF CHE DURING THE MONTHS FOLLOWING HIS UNITED NATIONS ADDRESS IN 1964, HIS REAPPEARANCE IN BOLIVIA IN 1966, AND A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF LAURA TANIA, CHE'S GUERRILLA COMPATRIOT WHO WAS ALSO AN AGENT FOR THE EAST GERMAN MINISTRY OF STATE. REASON FOR CHE'S FAILURE IS SUGGESTED: HE DID NOT FOLLOW HIS OWN THEORY OF GUERRILLA WARFARE ON MILITARY OR POLITICAL LEVELS. A CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS COVERED IN THE DIARIES IS GIVEN SEPARATELY. THE APPENDIX LISTS ALIASES, REAL NAMES, RANK, GOVERNMENT AND PARTY POSTS, THE FATE OF THE BOLIVIANS AND CUBANS INVOLVED IN THE INSURRECTIONS, AND NAMES OF OTHER INDIVIDUALS MENTIONED IN THE DIARIES. PHOTOS OF SOME OF THE PRINCIPLES ARE INCLUDED. (RFC)