Operation Verano - Aftermath

Aftermath

By trying and failing to destroy Castro's guerrilla army, the Batista government looked weak and ineffective. Furthermore

The impact of this debacle upon the morale of the Cuban army was devastating. The majority of the junior officers who had fought so hard over the preceding weeks were disgusted that Cantillo had even stooped to negotiate. Moreover, Castro's masterful maneuver had come at just the juncture when the regular army, after having fought well for the first time in the campaign, seemed to have all the advantages.

The government never realized how close they had come to victory because the military continued to believe that Castro had more than a thousand fighters. By not allocating their best soldiers to the fight, by dividing operational control between two Generals, and by failing to press the attack when Castro actually made a mistake, Castro's army snatched victory from the jaws of defeat and 12,000 men were defeated by just 300.

Uplifted by the government's failure, Castro went on the offensive and within 4 months, he had taken control of Cuba.