the 26th of july movement was the name of the political party led by fidel castro during the cuban revolution. in spanish, it is called movimiento 26 de julio, it is often abbreviated m-26-7. the name comes from the date of the attack on the moncada barracks, in santiago de cuba, which was carried out on 26th july 1953. the participants were condemned to long prison terms, but were freed at an amnesty in 1955. after this, they formed the movement. their strategy was armed resistance, in small cells, that were spread all over the country, and were kept secret. frank país was made the leader of the resistance in cuba, other activists were raúl pujol, celia sánchez, haydée santamaría, aldo santamaría and vilma espín.