The Granma, a small yacht, carried Fidel Castro, Che Guevara, and 80 other revolutionaries from Mexico to Cuba, marking the start of an intense revolutionary struggle against the authoritarian regime of Fulgencio Batista. After a challenging journey across the Gulf of Mexico, the vessel reached the shores of Cuba's Oriente Province, where Castro and his followers disembarked on a mostly uninhabited beach near Las Coloradas. The group, fueled by their ideological commitment and a desire for political change, aimed to rally the Cuban populace against Batista's government, which was characterized by corruption and repression.

Upon their arrival, the revolutionaries quickly encountered challenges, including a minor mishap that resulted in the loss of weapons and supplies. Despite these setbacks, they began to mobilize support in the surrounding areas, employing guerrilla tactics to engage Batista's forces. The initial encounters with the military proved difficult, but Castro's leadership and the charisma of Guevara played crucial roles in solidifying the resolve among their ranks and gaining local support. They established a base in the Sierra Maestra mountains, which would serve as a strategic location for launching further attacks and organizing the movement.

As the movement progressed, they gained notoriety through a combination of political activism, propaganda, and military engagement. The efforts of the 26th of July Movement expanded, provoking widespread dissent among the populace against Batista’s regime. The group's ability to present itself as champions of the Cuban people's rights and social justice resonated particularly with the disenfranchised, setting the stage for a broader uprising that would culminate in the eventual overthrow of Batista in 1959, changing the socio-political landscape of Cuba permanently.