The Cuban Revolution took place between 1953 and 1959. It saw the forces of Fidel Castro take on the government of Fulgencio Batista, the military dictator of Cuba. With a small force, Castro used guerrilla tactics, waging war through ambushes, raids, and hit-and-run attacks. This proved fruitful, and soon Castro had amassed an army of thousands to whom he promised freedom. In 1958, Castro began an offensive. Traveling north, he won victories at the Battles of Yaguajay and Santa Clara. Hearing of this, Batista fled the country, and Castro was declared victorious. Sadly, Castro never made good on his promise of freedom. Instead, he allied with the Communist Party and the Soviet Union. With this, he created a long lasting regime of cruelty, which still exists today.