Luke LaManna

Guevara was bearded with long, scraggly hair and a black beret perched on his head. His large brown eyes conveyed his purpose and determination. Castro swore that his fight would go on. Almost immediately after Guevara's death, questions arose about how exactly he had died.

Guevara was bearded with long, scraggly hair and a black beret perched on his head. His large brown eyes conveyed his purpose and determination. Castro swore that his fight would go on. Almost immediately after Guevara's death, questions arose about how exactly he had died.

Bolivian officials made inconsistent statements to the press about when Guevara had been killed and what kind of wounds he had suffered at the time of his capture. Very quickly, the cover story that Guevara had died in combat was shot full of holes. But the Bolivian government doubled down. On October 16, 1967, a week after Guevara was executed, the armed forces released a report.

Bolivian officials made inconsistent statements to the press about when Guevara had been killed and what kind of wounds he had suffered at the time of his capture. Very quickly, the cover story that Guevara had died in combat was shot full of holes. But the Bolivian government doubled down. On October 16, 1967, a week after Guevara was executed, the armed forces released a report.

It officially confirmed that Guevara had died in combat, but it redacted the exact time on both the death certificate and the autopsy report, fueling suspicions that the Bolivian military was hiding the truth. People quickly jumped to the theory that the United States was involved. Five days after Guevara's death, students at the Central University of Venezuela organized protests at the U.S.

It officially confirmed that Guevara had died in combat, but it redacted the exact time on both the death certificate and the autopsy report, fueling suspicions that the Bolivian military was hiding the truth. People quickly jumped to the theory that the United States was involved. Five days after Guevara's death, students at the Central University of Venezuela organized protests at the U.S.

Embassy. During the height of the Cold War, it was easy for people to believe that the United States had executed Che Guevara in cold blood. The country's foreign policy was laser-focused on stopping the spread of communism, and Che Guevara was one of its most famous proponents.

Embassy. During the height of the Cold War, it was easy for people to believe that the United States had executed Che Guevara in cold blood. The country's foreign policy was laser-focused on stopping the spread of communism, and Che Guevara was one of its most famous proponents.

In the wake of his death and the unanswered questions about it, his armed struggle in Bolivia took on mythic proportions in media accounts and eventually books. It became a David versus Goliath story. Guevara was a small idealist going up against the giant of the United States. The truth remained classified for years.

In the wake of his death and the unanswered questions about it, his armed struggle in Bolivia took on mythic proportions in media accounts and eventually books. It became a David versus Goliath story. Guevara was a small idealist going up against the giant of the United States. The truth remained classified for years.

It wasn't until the CIA's files were released in the 1990s that many people were surprised by how small a role the United States actually played in Guevara's death. The U.S. hadn't executed him. They hadn't even wanted it. They left the decision to the Bolivian government. But the US was still involved.

It wasn't until the CIA's files were released in the 1990s that many people were surprised by how small a role the United States actually played in Guevara's death. The U.S. hadn't executed him. They hadn't even wanted it. They left the decision to the Bolivian government. But the US was still involved.

The soldier that captured Guevara had been trained by the United States Army, and CIA operatives helped track him down. And in the end, the CIA operative on the scene advised Guevara's executioner about where to shoot him. Guevara had misread the situation in Bolivia. There was no broad support for an armed insurgency, and his ranks never grew beyond 120 people.

The soldier that captured Guevara had been trained by the United States Army, and CIA operatives helped track him down. And in the end, the CIA operative on the scene advised Guevara's executioner about where to shoot him. Guevara had misread the situation in Bolivia. There was no broad support for an armed insurgency, and his ranks never grew beyond 120 people.

By the time he was captured, Guevara's mission was largely a failure. Perhaps the US could have let Guevara's rebellion run its course until it fizzled out, just like his attempted revolution in Africa. If they had, Guevara's name might have only been known to the most ardent students of the Cuban Revolution. But instead, Rodriguez was right. Killing Guevara turned him into a martyr.

By the time he was captured, Guevara's mission was largely a failure. Perhaps the US could have let Guevara's rebellion run its course until it fizzled out, just like his attempted revolution in Africa. If they had, Guevara's name might have only been known to the most ardent students of the Cuban Revolution. But instead, Rodriguez was right. Killing Guevara turned him into a martyr.

Follow Redacted Declassified Mysteries on the Wondery app, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to every episode of Redacted early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts. Before you go, tell us about yourself by completing a short survey at wondery.com slash survey.

Follow Redacted Declassified Mysteries on the Wondery app, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to every episode of Redacted early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts. Before you go, tell us about yourself by completing a short survey at wondery.com slash survey.

From Ballant Studios and Wondery, this is Redacted, Declassified Mysteries, hosted by me, Luke LaManna. A quick note about our stories. We do a lot of research, but some details and scenes are dramatized. We used many different sources for our show, but we especially recommend the books Che Guevara, A Revolutionary Life by John Lee Anderson and The Fall of Che by Henry Butterfield Ryan.

From Ballant Studios and Wondery, this is Redacted, Declassified Mysteries, hosted by me, Luke LaManna. A quick note about our stories. We do a lot of research, but some details and scenes are dramatized. We used many different sources for our show, but we especially recommend the books Che Guevara, A Revolutionary Life by John Lee Anderson and The Fall of Che by Henry Butterfield Ryan.