About this episode

The episode discusses the explosion of the La Coubre ship in Havana Harbour and its implications during the Cuban Revolution.

A Belgian munitions ship called La Coubre blows up in Havana Harbour, killing somewhere between 75 and 100 people…. and Castro immediately points the finger at Washington, which is awkward given that the US had already been bombing Cuban sugar fields from Florida. Also at this funeral, Alberto Korda snaps a photo of Che Guevara that will eventually end up on condoms worldwide, and Castro coins the phrase that becomes the revolution’s motto: Patria O Muerte. The diplomats are starting to figure out what the CIA already knew months ago.

More episodes of Cam & Ray's Cold War Podcast

• Cold War 313: Pick Up the Gun · July 20, 2026 · 12 min
• Cold War 311: Coletillas (CUBAN REVOLUTION #36) · June 24, 2026 · 19 min

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