REPORT ON CUBAN MILITARY POTENTIAL AND INTERNAL CONDITIONS IN CUBA BY 30TH OF NOVEMBER MOVEMENT

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005530633
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: June 24, 2015
• Document Release Date: May 18, 2011
• Case Number: F-2010-01161
• Publication Date: November 28, 1961

~(b)(1)
(b)(3)
cEIVED I ISO
18, V.S.C. Secs. 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
APPROVED FOR RELEASE^ DATE:
05-04-2011
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
COUNTRY Cuba
SUBJECT/ Report gC uban idililcary Potg>?ial DATE DISTR.
...~......_.:
DATE OF
INFO.
PLACE &
DATE ACQ.
oaf November Movement
13 October 1961
SOURCE:
ALL FBI INF?FPriAi:o REFERENCES
CNjJTAJNNE
jIEREIN JS U
'
NcMo
I Er
DATESl~"
28 November 1961
DEC 6 i951.,
CA SJP
The information below was excerpted from a report of 13 October 1961 from a member
.of the 30th of November Moveme
,1. 'CASTRO's army now has about.200,000 young armed militiamen between 13 and'20.
-?_, years of age who are indoctrinated and-trained under inhuman conditions so that o
they wiU be mentally and physica ..ly conditioned to face the greatest sacrificeso
and needs. For example, some of' these youths have to stand guard duty for
24- and 28-hour periods, eating and li-v3.ng in a _foxhole* Some undergo forced
I:
~) ma
h
d dail
2 0
f
l
rc
es an
y manua
--o
warms dr0
A ) -"- Vn:2. Q1
2
NY OLU
r~J
3. There is a total of 60 light and heavy tanks. All the militia have Czech- or
Soviet-made automatic weapons, such as burp guns, FALs, and nine-mmo, pistols -:'.
for all off icers plus sufficient anmunitlon64
 The i'nfo'rmation below 4 ea carpted from a report' of 13 0, er 196i from a member
of ,the 30th o November Movem
CASTROts array now has about 200,000 young armed militiamen between 13 and' 20
years of age who are indoctrinated and trained under inhuman conditions so that
they will be mentally and phys icall;y conditioned to face the greatest sacrifices
and needs. For example, some of those youths have to stand guard duty for
24- and 28-hoar periods, eating and liv Ing in a foxhole. Some undergo forced
marches and daily manual-of-arms drill. 2
Their orders are to shoot to k?ll, even if the target is a small defenseless boat.5 '
4. Ten boats, equipped with torpedoes, :tight artillery., and radar, and capable of
doing 60 knots, were received about 1 October. These boats are to patrol the
Cuban coasts, and the patrols will be reinforced by the MiGs and helicopters.
3. There is a ,total of 600 light and heavy tanks. All the militia have Czech- or
Soviet made automatic weapons, such as burp guns, FALs, and nine-mm.-pistols
for all officers, plus sufficient ammunition.4
2. The militia army has 150 Soviet MiGSq of two types. Twelve of these have.
been painted with the American Army ksic) insignia on the tail and wings. Six'
of these 12 are at the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces and are said
to be ready to be used for an act of self aggression to bomb Habana City and
other centers in case of any invasion.3
ARMY NAVV
REFOINCLANT CINCARI:B
NSA 1 o.cR-..-. IX I D IA "'" FBI, A 2
 5. The motorized equipment of the CASTRO army is extraordinarily great in numbers.
A conservative estimate places the number of small jeeps, large and small trucks,
and semi-trailers used to transport cannons and heavy equipment betjegACt,20,000
and 25,000.'
6. Light and heavy artillery and four-barrel antiaircraft machine-guns are numerous.
There are gun emplacements atop every high place or building in the large cities
and in the highest part of the mountains., as well as atop important government
buildings in both Habana and the provincial capitals.
7. The total number of militia., including women, f luctuates between 4009000 and
500,000, but many of these are elderly persons., while others do not sympathize
with the Communist doctrine but are forced to join in order to keep their jobs.
8. Defense committees have been reinforced and have extended their vigil in` all
neighborhoods, standing night watches and checking and searching everyone who
e.xiters? or leaves a house with a package. The entry and exit of unknown persons
in.a'neighborhood are also checked, Most of these vigilantes, including the
women, are armed for this duty. At night all embassies, factories., offices,
workshops, and clubs are carefully guarded on a permanent basis. This means
that there are thousands of militia who perform guard duty from 10 to as much
as 16 -hours at one time,
9. A new Currency change is being prepared which will include fractional coins. There
are nickels and pennies in circulation, but the shortage of other coins in Cuba has been a big handicap., especially for small businesses.
10. 'Persecutions and detentions have been intensified, and another martial law, which
will prohibit citizens from being on the streets after nine p.m.? is' expected at
any time; a state of permanent emergency will be decreed. The closing of the
few remaining gambling establishments and the absence of U. S.., French, or . ?
Italian motion pictures makes Habana resemble a dead city.at night; only Soviet
pictures '.are exhibited.
ll. An estimate places the men working in G-2 in the city of Habana alone at 50,000.6
Some ' of them work in labor centers. There is a special corps above 'G-2 whose
function is the surveillance of G-2's work. In addition., there is a secret
organization in charge of checking the movements and actions of such prominent
members of the government as ministers and field-grade military officers.
3-2. The CASTRO regime has confidence only in tried and proven Communists. Others in
government positions are subjected to the same terror they produce, thus creating
a state of collective insecurity.
13. The few private industries and businesses still remaining, such as restaurants,
jewelry, drug, hardware., and grocery stores., are being eliminated. by the lack
of, materials with which to operate.
11.. Hunger is felt among the poorer classes and workers. There are long lines in
front''of grocery., fruit, meat., and poultry stores. A medical certificate is
needed~to.buy oranges. Leading Communists and government members do not suffer
any shortages; foreign embassies' shelves are also well stocked,
 ew remaining gambling establishments and the absence of U. S,, French, or
Italian motion. pictures makes Habana resemble a dead city at night; only Soviet
pictures?-',are exhibited.
1].. An estimate places tlmen working in G-2 in the city J lbana alone at 50,000.6
Some of them work in labor centers. There is a special corps above G-2 whose
function is the surveillance of G-2's work, In addition., there is a secret
organization in charge of checking the movements and actions of such prominent
members of the government as ministers and field-grade military officers.
12. The CASTRO regime has confidence only in tried and proven Communists. Others in
government positions are subjected to the same terror they produce, thus creating
a state of collective insecurity.
13. The few private industries and businesses still remaining, such as restaurants,
jewelry., drug., hardware, and grocery stores. are being eliminated by the lack
of. materials with which to operate.
,14. Hunger is felt among the poorer classes and workers. There are long lines in
front of grocery., fruit, meat., and poultry stores. A medical certificate is
needed to buy oranges. Leading Communists and government members do not suffer
any shortages; foreign embassies' shelves are also well stocked.
3.5. To`obtain an exit permit from Cuba one is assigned a turn at the local police
station. When one's turn is reached a questionnaire must be submitted, which
lists'one's possessions such as automobile., refrigerator, and furniture.
S/=C-~RET
 E, R-E T i.
This information is then investigated by G-2, which then forwards the
documents to the Technical Investigations Department. This organization fixes the
date: of 'departure , of , e a c h ? requester . It is estimated that there are now over
30,000 passports, with all the necessary documentation, and another 70,000
Cubans who are getting their documents in order in preparation for leaving
the country.
16. To prevent the hi-jacking of Cabana de Aviation planes, the Cuban Government
has sealed off the pilots cabin doors on the Viscounts and DO-3s used
V`
on the Isle of Pines, Habana-Camaguey, and Habana-Santiago routes, Of a
total' of 81+ pilots, co-pilots and stewards with Cabana de Aviation, about
70 are opposed to Communism, and many work in counterrevolutionary
organizations. The pilots want to hi-jack the planes, but many still have
families in Cuba whom they are trying to take out little by little. In
each plane, with the exception of the Britannia's : flying to Mexico, Madrid,
and Prague, there are two militiamen armed with automatic weapons. One
remains in the cockpit, and another in the passenger compartment, pointing
his gun at the passengers.
17. The Isle of Pines prison is a virtual inferno, with a population of merchants,
professionals, technicians, businessmen, workers, farmers, and ordinary
workmen. Illnesses such as tuberculosis, infectious asthma,. bronchitis, and
such infections as typhus and malaria abound. The food is terrible, and rats
and roaches are found in the cooking pots. Visits are frequently prohibited,
and sometimes two and three months pass without the prisoners being able to
N, see their relatives. Prisoners sleep on the floor pressed against each other
because there are four times the number of prisoners that can be accommodated
adequately. There are about 3,000 men in the Cabana Fortress, which is large
enough for 800. The majority have been there for six or seven months without
knowing that the charges against them are. In the Cabana, boys 15 and 16
years of age are held for counterrevolutionary trials. Living conditions at
the Cabana are slightly better than at the Isle of Pines. Both the Cabana
Fortress and the Isle of Pines prison are completely mined with dynamite.
It was placed in underground excavations to be set off whenever: necessary '?.
by means of special detonators.
18. It" is rumored that other large industrial buildings such as the Cuban Electric
Company, the Telephone Company, the Instituto National de la Ref orma Agraria
building, and important factories are also mined with dynamite,
19. Throughout the island G-2 has houses in which many people have been detained;
sometimes a person will have to go hungry and sleep on the floor for two-or
three months without being able to see any relatives. Then, if there is
something against the person., or if he is merely under suspicion, he is sent to
the Cabana Fortress; otherwise he goes free. There are more than 50,000 people
in Cuba in this situation. There are now new mass detentions based on simple
declarations or information from the neighborhood defense committees. The G-2
corps is made up in large part of such persons as drug peddlers, petty crooks,
blackmailers, pickpockets., and homosexuals.
20. Feminine brigades have been created to dedicate themselves to teaching reading
and writing,, and they include young women of from 12 to 20 years of age. They
wear special militia-type uniforms but of a different color. They go to farm
zozze a ARRfibizn6edly. to teach reading and WI :hid; bHi a~ ~ia71y to lRdadiI' irate
 L5 tj
?ada i.~a a e~
18. It is 'rumored that other large industrial buildings such as the cube? ao~tx n ,?
Company, the TelelMe Company, the Institute Nacio e la Ref orma Agraria
building, and impo ,nt factories are also mined Witte,
19. Throughout the island G-2 has houses in which many people have been detained;
sometimes a person will have to go hungry and sleep on the floor for two or
three months without being able to see any relatives. Then, if there is
something against the person, or if he is merely under suspicion, he is sent to
the Cabana Fortress; otherwise he goes free. There are more than 509000 people
in Cuba in this situation. There are now new mass detentions based on simple
declarations or information from the neighborhood defense committees. The G-2
corps is made up in large part of such persons as drug peddlers, petty crooks,
blackmailers, pickpockets, and homosexuals.
20. Feminine brigades have been created to dedicate themselves to teaching reading
and writing, and they include young women of from 12 to 20 years of age. They
wear special militia-type uniforms but of a different color. They go to farm
zones, announcedly to teach reading and writing, but actually to indoctrinate
the farmers. Many of these young girls have returned home pregnant, and
government hospitals and other facilities have been used for abortions. Although
the government has declared abortions illegal and has prosecuted violators, it
has justified its actions in these cases by maintaining that thewomen must be
in condition for their tasks as teachers.* This moral deterioration has
occurred because girls from good families have come in contact with prostitutes
and lesbians; parents have been unable to control their daughters because of fear
of being denounced by them.
SE -CRT
 -4-
21. There are no anesthetics, no antibiotics., no gauze, no cotton, and no bandages,
and the supplies of patent medicines have diminished considerably. The
shelves of pharmacies., drug stores, and laboratories are almost empty.
The exodus of the medical class from Cuba has been great. This is a great
problem,, particularly for children., since elementary medical supplies are not
available. Anti-typhus and anti-tetanus vaccines are also unavailable.
22. =The so-called revolutionary trials are conspicuous by the absence of the most
elementary norms of guarantee. Tribunals are made up of q3i orally. '
low and incompetent persons, who know little of a judicial ',trial, Sentences
are passed by G-2, and the lawyers who defend persons in the Cabana Fortress
trials expose themselves to possible imprisonment and suffer all sorts of
insults and criticism from the prosecuting attorney., witnesses of G-2, and
members of the tribunals. In addition to those executed after such trials,
others are executed without trials or publicity. Raul CASTRO, now active in
Santiago de Cuba., is one of the leaders in these activities. One prisoner is
a. lawyer who was sentenced to 20 years in the Isle of Pines.', In 24 days of
torture he aged 20 years. Among other tortures he was forced to Listen for
20 consecutive hours to a record that played over and over again,, "Confess, worm;
say what you know." After that, infra-red lamps were concentrated on his eyes
for two or three hours while he was interrogated incessantly, without food or'
water. He was taken out more than ten times, being told that he was to be
executed, and he was then fired at with blanks.
23.., It is estimated that there are currently in Cuba 25,000 members of the Communist
International Brigade. These include pilots., technicians,-investigators, and
military officer instructors, and they are sponsored with state funds.
24. The professional sector of the 30th of November Movement is the best organized,
and tba following six organizations are integrated within it: `the Movimiento
Revolucionario del Pueblo., Novimiento DemocraticoCristiano, the Movimiinto
Insurrectional Democratico (MID), a faction of the MMvimiento de Recuperation
Revolucionaria, and a part of the Catholic movement. The leader of this sector
is "Angel", and one of his assistants is "Juan,"g
25. The'30th of November Movement maintains armed rebel fronts in the Escambray, and
in Oriente and Pinar del Rio Provinces. Some aid is given the counterrevolutionaries::
by .local farmers. The recent few actions and acts of sabotage in Cuba have been
done by the 30th of November Movement. Other such actions are planned, but such
items as contact mines., explosives, and arms and ammunition are needed.
Comments
1. This report is being disseminated in its entirety as an example of the type
of intelligence being forwarded by I}e 30th of November Movement
Many of the figures are exaggerated
the statements very genera in nature.
2. The total of 200,000 militiamen of this age group is extremely high.
3.".The number of MiGs reported here is too high. Cuban MiG aircraft are
estimated at an aggregate of 75P of which 25 to 38 are believed to be in
 U05.Lo, TlovTunlenTo emocratlco ristaano, t e oviin n o
Tnsurreccional Democratico (MID), a faction of the MMvimiento de Recuperacion
Revolucionaria, and a part of the Catholic movement. The leader of this sector
is "Angell", and one of his assistants is "Juan "g
25.. The 30th Gf November Movement maintains armed rebel fronts in the Escambray, and
in Oriente and Pinar del Rio Provinces, Some aid is given the counterrevolutionaries,
by local farmers. The recent few actions and acts of sabotage in Cuba have been
done by the 30th, of November Movement, Other such actions are planned, but such
items as contact mines, explosives, and arms and ammunition are needed.
This report is being disseminated in its entirety as an example of the type
of intelligence being forwarded by the 30th of November Movement
Many of the figures are exaggerated
and e statements very genera in-nature,
2: The total of 2Qp,000 militiamen of this age group is extremely high.
3`.The number of M Gs reported here is too high. Cuban MiG aircraft are
estimated at an aggregate of 75, of which 28 to 38 are believed to be in
flying condition. Reports of PAR aircraft painted with US insignia have
included B-26ts, T-331s, and now MiG's. Although there is little doubt
that Cuban planes have been painted with US insignia, the type of plane and
quantity is questionable. There has been no confirmation that MiG aircraft
are based at Ciudad Libertad, to which the source is assumed. to be referring
in the mention of the six MiG' a at the Ministry of the Revolutionary !Armed'
Pores. ?
?. S~RET ?
 It is doubtful that the total number of light and heavy tanks in Cuba would
equal half this number.
One'of Cubans fastest naval vessels, the R-42, a World War II PT boat, is
capable of reaching 40-42 knots. The speed of 60 knots is too high. Cubans
refer to "light artillery" in speaking of the 12.7mm and 14.5mm anti-aircraft
machine-guns; most Cuban escort patrol (PE), coast guard (GC), and some
service vessels (SV), as well as the larger frigates and cruisers, are
equipped with radar, although maintenance of this equipment is difficult
because of the shortage of parts. There may be some validity to the report
that Cuba has received additional patrol craft, since Cuba has been attempting
u C afro z choslovakia in March 1961, and pursuit speedboats were reported
to have been received in Cuba in early October 1961 from Italy although there
has been no confirmation of either report.
6. This figure; appears to be exaggerated.
7. Although the report said that six organizations had been integrated, the MID was
mentioned twice. It is not clear what error may have been made here.
8. ~Oomment. Among the propaganda activities of the 30th of November
Movement is the publication and distribution within Cuba of El Dancario Libre,
the official publication of the Movement for bank employees.
 S-E-C -E-T