Death of Che
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What is the premise of 'Death of Che'?
In late September 1967, the famous revolutionary Ernesto Che Guevara crouched behind a tree on a rugged hillside high in the mountains of Bolivia. His comrades were nearby, cowering behind other trees and watching him anxiously. From his hiding spot, Guevara could see a Bolivian soldier halfway down the hill. One wrong move and their lives would be over. And so would their revolution. A decade earlier, Guevara helped lead the Cuban Revolution that carried Fidel Castro to power. Guevara had come to Bolivia ten months ago to start a communist uprising there, too. But the mission hadn't gone as he'd hoped. And now he'd heard on the radio that the Bolivian army had 1,800 soldiers searching for him and his few remaining men.
Down the hill, the soldier spoke to a peasant woman, and as they were talking, he seemed to point at the very tree where Guevara was hiding. Guevara's chest tightened, and his lungs fought for air. It wasn't just anxiety. A month ago, the Bolivian army had found his cache of asthma medication and confiscated it. Guevara struggled without his inhaler, and his breathing only got worse as he and his men climbed to higher and higher altitudes. At times, he could barely walk, so they were forced to travel by mule. The soldier stared right at Guevara's tree for a long, tense moment. Then he abruptly turned and walked down the hill, away from where Guevara and his men were hiding. Guevara let out a sigh.
He was supposed to be leading a revolution throughout South America, but they were still just in their very first country and already surrounded. They'd escaped for the time being, but Guevara had a feeling that the end was near. Maybe not today, but soon the Bolivian army was going to capture him.
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Why did Che Guevara go to Bolivia?
From Ballin Studios and Wondery, I'm Luke LaManna, and this is Redacted Declassified Mysteries, where each week we shine a light on the shadowy corners of espionage, covert operations, and misinformation to reveal the dark secrets our governments try to hide. This week's episode is called The Death of Che Guevara. Che Guevara has one of the most famous faces in the world. His portrait appears on T-shirts, coffee mugs, and posters. His signature black beret is almost instantly recognizable, and his deep-set eyes seem to peer into the future. He's come to symbolize youthful idealism and fierce rebellion. and he's viewed as the eternal underdog and a martyr for his cause. Having seen Che Guevara's face everywhere, I had been given the impression that he was clearly some kind of pop culture icon. Maybe at one point I thought he was in a band. It wasn't until I took an interest in military and political history that I began to understand who he actually was.
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Chapters
6 chapters
1
What is the premise of 'Death of Che'?
0:25–3:50
2
Why did Che Guevara go to Bolivia?
3:50–8:00
3
How did the Bolivian mission differ from Guevara's expectations?
8:00–16:29
4
What role did the CIA play in Che Guevara's demise?
16:29–22:21
5
Who are the key figures in the Bolivian uprising?
22:21–34:58
6
How did Felix Rodriguez influence the search for Guevara?
34:58–42:25