Academia de la Historia de Cuba mourns the death of academic Guillermo Jiménez Soler

May 16, 2020

With profound sorrow the Academia de la Historia de Cuba announced the loss of one of its most distinguished members.

Guillermo Jiménez Soler joined this institution in 2012, as its members considered, unanimously, that his outstanding work made him deserving of this status. His books Las empresas de Cuba 1958, published in 2000, and with three reprints (2002, 2005, 2009), and Los propietarios de Cuba 1958, Critic's Prize in 2007, published in 2006 and reprinted twice (2007 and 2008), constitute works of essential consultation for the information they contain, for the rigorous method employed, for the wealth of documentary sources processed during years of dedicated work, and for the ethics contained in his analyses.

The above considerations place the academician Guillermo Jiménez Soler as a distinguished historian who honored the profession by dignifying this work.

It is regrettable that he leaves three works unfinished: Historia de las comidas en Cuba, El capitalismo en Cuba, and Cronología socioeconómica de Cuba 1492-1958.

Jiménez was a graduate in Law and History. His works can be found in publications such as Revista Bimestre Cubana, Catauro, and Revolución y Cultura.

The Academy wishes to highlight the life and ethics of the outstanding member he was for all, an example of revolutionary civism. Born in La Habana on August 22, 1936, at the age of 16, and from the very moment of Fulgencio Batista's coup d'état on March 10, 1952, he begins his revolutionary record within the ranks of the Federación Estudiantil Universitaria (FEU). Subdirector of the newspaper Alma Mater, he participates in the attack on the spokesman of Batista's youth Luis Manuel Martínez on April 29, 1956. In this encounter he is seriously wounded.

Guillermo Jiménez was part of the founders of the Directorio Revolucionario, under the direction of José Antonio Echevarría.

He participated in numerous clandestine actions. After the death of José Antonio and Fructuoso Rodríguez, top leaders of the Directorio, the organization came to be led by Faure Chomon, with "Jimenito" —as he was known— integrating the National Executive.

Among the strategies defined by the new leadership was the opening of the II Frente Nacional del Escambray, carried out in October 1957. This front would be reinforced with the expedition that arrived near Nuevitas, Camagüey, in February 1958, among whose members were Faure Chomon and Guillermo Jiménez, as well as other members of the Directorio's board. Divided into two parts, one remained in the Escambray and another marched to La Habana. "Jimenito" was entrusted with this latter mission: to reactivate clandestine struggle in the capital.

Upon the triumph of the revolution he received the rank of Comandante and distinguished himself for his tireless and intelligent work in the defense of the revolution. He directed the newspaper Combate, Organ of the Directorio Revolucionario 13 de marzo, and when the Ministry of Interior was founded, he was appointed Director of Analysis and Information.

Subsequently he served as company director and official of the Banco Nacional de Cuba. He was a founder of the Partido Comunista de Cuba and an active member until his death.

The Academia de la Historia de Cuba loses one of its most beloved colleagues; historians lose a colleague who honored the profession; friends lose the charming conversationalist; and Cuba loses a man who contributed to its history by making it and writing it.