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Sven Creutzmann

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Che Guevara bust in La Higuera and the school where he was shot on Oct 9, 1967, in the background.

Che Guevara bust in La Higuera and the school where he was shot on Oct 9, 1967, in the background.

Argentinian actor Alfredo Vasco on the set to "Che", a movie about Ernesto Che Guevara, filmed on location in Santa Clara in 1997, where Che assaulted a train of Batista's Armed Forces in December of 1958, which finally led to Bastista's escape from

Argentinian actor Alfredo Vasco on the set to "Che", a movie about Ernesto Che Guevara, filmed on location in Santa Clara in 1997, where Che assaulted a train of Batista's Armed Forces in December of 1958, which finally led to Bastista's escape from Cuba and the victory of Castro's revolution.

The remains of Che Guevara's and fellow guerilleros in the Santa Clara mausoleum

The remains of Che Guevara's and fellow guerilleros in the Santa Clara mausoleum

Cuban Geidrich bears a Che Tattoo on his arm, Santa Lucia, Camagüey, 2008.

Cuban Geidrich bears a Che Tattoo on his arm, Santa Lucia, Camagüey, 2008.

Cuban pioneers pass by a billboard with the image of Che Guevara on their way back home after school, on the road to Vinales, Pinar del Rio, 2014.

Cuban pioneers pass by a billboard with the image of Che Guevara on their way back home after school, on the road to Vinales, Pinar del Rio, 2014.

Cubans at a Medico de la Familia, Family Doctor, in Old Havana. Che Guevara painting.

Cubans at a Medico de la Familia, Family Doctor, in Old Havana. Che Guevara painting.

General Harry Villegas, aka Pombo, who was fighting with Che Guevara since he was 15, first in the cuban Revolution, later in the Congo and finally in Bolivia, where Che Guevara was killed. In the back, Ministry of Interior, Che Guevara Image (after

General Harry Villegas, aka Pombo, who was fighting with Che Guevara since he was 15, first in the cuban Revolution, later in the Congo and finally in Bolivia, where Che Guevara was killed. In the back, Ministry of Interior, Che Guevara Image (after Alberto Korda's photo), Plaza de la Revolucion, Havana, 2004.

A cuban boy jokes with a friend as he stands under an image of late guerilla fighter Che Guevara in Biran, Fidel Casro's birthplace. Words read the most famous sentence written by Che Guevara: Hasta la Victoria Siempre (Until Victory, forever). 2007

A cuban boy jokes with a friend as he stands under an image of late guerilla fighter Che Guevara in Biran, Fidel Casro's birthplace. Words read the most famous sentence written by Che Guevara: Hasta la Victoria Siempre (Until Victory, forever). 2007.

Cuban barber Michel always has Che photo next to where he cuts hair.Old Havana, 2016.

Cuban barber Michel always has Che photo next to where he cuts hair.Old Havana, 2016.

A young Cuban pioneer holds an image of Che as the caravan with his remains passes through a village on its way to Santa Clara.

A young Cuban pioneer holds an image of Che as the caravan with his remains passes through a village on its way to Santa Clara.

Tens of thousands of Cubans pay tribute to Che Guevara, at the Jose Marti monument, Plaza de la Revolucion.

Tens of thousands of Cubans pay tribute to Che Guevara, at the Jose Marti monument, Plaza de la Revolucion.

Participants of Che's funeral ceremony, Oct 17, 1997, Santa Clara.

Participants of Che's funeral ceremony, Oct 17, 1997, Santa Clara.

Guard of honor next to the remains of Che Guevara, at the Jose Marti monument, Plaza de la Revolucion.

Guard of honor next to the remains of Che Guevara, at the Jose Marti monument, Plaza de la Revolucion.

Luis Emilio Monteagudo Arteaga, a.k.a. ‘Angalia’, stands in front of the niche with the remains of late Ernesto Che Guevara, in the Che Guevara Memorial, on September 21, 2017, in Santa Clara, Cuba. Monteagudo fought with Che Guevara in his military

Luis Emilio Monteagudo Arteaga, a.k.a. ‘Angalia’, stands in front of the niche with the remains of late Ernesto Che Guevara, in the Che Guevara Memorial, on September 21, 2017, in Santa Clara, Cuba. Monteagudo fought with Che Guevara in his military mission in the Congo.

The mausoleum with the remains of late guerilla fighter Ernesto Che Guevara and others who fought and died with Che in Bolivia, in the Che Guevara Memorial, in Santa Clara, Cuba, 2017.

The mausoleum with the remains of late guerilla fighter Ernesto Che Guevara and others who fought and died with Che in Bolivia, in the Che Guevara Memorial, in Santa Clara, Cuba, 2017.

Che Guevara bust in La Higuera and the school where he was shot on Oct 9, 1967, in the background. Argentinian actor Alfredo Vasco on the set to "Che", a movie about Ernesto Che Guevara, filmed on location in Santa Clara in 1997, where Che assaulted a train of Batista's Armed Forces in December of 1958, which finally led to Bastista's escape from The remains of Che Guevara's and fellow guerilleros in the Santa Clara mausoleum Cuban Geidrich bears a Che Tattoo on his arm, Santa Lucia, Camagüey, 2008. Cuban pioneers pass by a billboard with the image of Che Guevara on their way back home after school, on the road to Vinales, Pinar del Rio, 2014. Cubans at a Medico de la Familia, Family Doctor, in Old Havana. Che Guevara painting. General Harry Villegas, aka Pombo, who was fighting with Che Guevara since he was 15, first in the cuban Revolution, later in the Congo and finally in Bolivia, where Che Guevara was killed. In the back, Ministry of Interior, Che Guevara Image (after A cuban boy jokes with a friend as he stands under an image of late guerilla fighter Che Guevara in Biran, Fidel Casro's birthplace. Words read the most famous sentence written by Che Guevara: Hasta la Victoria Siempre (Until Victory, forever). 2007 Cuban barber Michel always has Che photo next to where he cuts hair.Old Havana, 2016. A young Cuban pioneer holds an image of Che as the caravan with his remains passes through a village on its way to Santa Clara. Tens of thousands of Cubans pay tribute to Che Guevara, at the Jose Marti monument, Plaza de la Revolucion. Participants of Che's funeral ceremony, Oct 17, 1997, Santa Clara. Guard of honor next to the remains of Che Guevara, at the Jose Marti monument, Plaza de la Revolucion. Luis Emilio Monteagudo Arteaga, a.k.a. ‘Angalia’, stands in front of the niche with the remains of late Ernesto Che Guevara, in the Che Guevara Memorial, on September 21, 2017, in Santa Clara, Cuba. Monteagudo fought with Che Guevara in his military The mausoleum with the remains of late guerilla fighter Ernesto Che Guevara and others who fought and died with Che in Bolivia, in the Che Guevara Memorial, in Santa Clara, Cuba, 2017.

Che Guevara

October 08, 2020

The news sparked a deep conflict in me. On July 12, 1997, Cuba’s communist party paper Granma published a note on its cover: the remains of Ernesto Che Guavara had been found, almost three decades after Che had been killed, on October 9th, 1967, in Bolivia. It was also announced, that the funeral would take place in Cuba, three months later, in October.

You must be kidding, October! Exactly when I was supposed to be the best man at the wedding of my best school buddy in Germany! How many times in your life do you get the honor to be the best man at the wedding of your oldest school friend?

I was devastated, and for days I did not know what to do (on top of everything, the news came out on the very day of my friend’s birthday).

In 1997, I had been covering the Cuban revolution for over 9 years already, I was the only German photojournalist with a permanent working permit in Cuba and as such I had been lucky to be already something like “Our man in Havana” for German and international magazines. So, from that perspective, I had to be there and cover the funeral of Che Guevara. But on the other hand, there was my friend…

As I said, heavy conflicts and thunderstorms of doubt raged in my brain. At the end, and as so many times before and after, I surrendered to my profession and with a heavy heart I had to tell my friend that I could not be at his wedding…

Soldiers carry Che's chest into the mausoleum's chamber, funeral ceremony, Oct 17, 1997, Santa Clara.

Soldiers carry Che's chest into the mausoleum's chamber, funeral ceremony, Oct 17, 1997, Santa Clara.

Susana Osinaga, nurse who cleaned the corpse of Che, in the laundry of the Senor de Malta hospital, where Che's body was presented to the international press as proof that he had been killed.

Susana Osinaga, nurse who cleaned the corpse of Che, in the laundry of the Senor de Malta hospital, where Che's body was presented to the international press as proof that he had been killed.

General Gary Prado was leading the operation of the Bolivian military that lead to the detention of Che Guevara on Oct8,1967, in the Quebrada del Churo,near La Higuera, Bolivia. Prado sits in the wheelchair since a friendy fire bullet hit his back.

General Gary Prado was leading the operation of the Bolivian military that lead to the detention of Che Guevara on Oct8,1967, in the Quebrada del Churo,near La Higuera, Bolivia. Prado sits in the wheelchair since a friendy fire bullet hit his back. Santa Cruz, 2004.

che guevara - sven creutzmann 20.jpg
Che Guevara painting (after the photo of Alberto Korda) in La Higuera, where Che spent his last night and was executed on Oct9, 1967.

Che Guevara painting (after the photo of Alberto Korda) in La Higuera, where Che spent his last night and was executed on Oct9, 1967.

Wagner, Cuban rap musician of the band La Familia, with a Che Guevara Tattoo on his arm, during a rehearsal at a Centro Habana rooftop, 2006.

Wagner, Cuban rap musician of the band La Familia, with a Che Guevara Tattoo on his arm, during a rehearsal at a Centro Habana rooftop, 2006.

A bronce bust of Che Guevara at the ISA, Instituo Superior de Arte, Havana's art university, 2004.

A bronce bust of Che Guevara at the ISA, Instituo Superior de Arte, Havana's art university, 2004.

Granma, official party paper, announcing that the remains of Che Guevara were found in Bolivia, July 12, 1997.

Granma, official party paper, announcing that the remains of Che Guevara were found in Bolivia, July 12, 1997.

Ernesto Che Guevara propaganda in a state office. Santiago de Cuba, 2003.

Ernesto Che Guevara propaganda in a state office. Santiago de Cuba, 2003.

Che Guevar's image on the 3 Peso banknotes and coins of the Cuban Peso, next to chewing gum for sale in a restaurant.

Che Guevar's image on the 3 Peso banknotes and coins of the Cuban Peso, next to chewing gum for sale in a restaurant.

Cuban models of the KINGS OF SALSA, a show by british theater producer Jon Lee, pose during a photoshoot in a garage against the backdrop of the Che Guevara image, 2007.

Cuban models of the KINGS OF SALSA, a show by british theater producer Jon Lee, pose during a photoshoot in a garage against the backdrop of the Che Guevara image, 2007.

Old cuban couple dances at christmas eve next to a Che Guevara image and a christmas tree, 1992.

Old cuban couple dances at christmas eve next to a Che Guevara image and a christmas tree, 1992.

Replica of the Che Guevara Bolivia diary showing Oct 6th and 7th, the last days that Che wrote in the diary, before he was caught on Oct 8th, 1967. Vallegrande, Bolvia, 2019.

Replica of the Che Guevara Bolivia diary showing Oct 6th and 7th, the last days that Che wrote in the diary, before he was caught on Oct 8th, 1967. Vallegrande, Bolvia, 2019.

People gather under the statue of Che Guevara after the end of a political act at the Plaza de la Revolucion to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the death of Ernesto Che Guevara, on October 8, 2017 in Santa Clara, Cuba.

People gather under the statue of Che Guevara after the end of a political act at the Plaza de la Revolucion to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the death of Ernesto Che Guevara, on October 8, 2017 in Santa Clara, Cuba.

Soldiers carry Che's chest into the mausoleum's chamber, funeral ceremony, Oct 17, 1997, Santa Clara. Susana Osinaga, nurse who cleaned the corpse of Che, in the laundry of the Senor de Malta hospital, where Che's body was presented to the international press as proof that he had been killed. General Gary Prado was leading the operation of the Bolivian military that lead to the detention of Che Guevara on Oct8,1967, in the Quebrada del Churo,near La Higuera, Bolivia. Prado sits in the wheelchair since a friendy fire bullet hit his back. che guevara - sven creutzmann 20.jpg Che Guevara painting (after the photo of Alberto Korda) in La Higuera, where Che spent his last night and was executed on Oct9, 1967. Wagner, Cuban rap musician of the band La Familia, with a Che Guevara Tattoo on his arm, during a rehearsal at a Centro Habana rooftop, 2006. A bronce bust of Che Guevara at the ISA, Instituo Superior de Arte, Havana's art university, 2004. Granma, official party paper, announcing that the remains of Che Guevara were found in Bolivia, July 12, 1997. Ernesto Che Guevara propaganda in a state office. Santiago de Cuba, 2003. Che Guevar's image on the 3 Peso banknotes and coins of the Cuban Peso, next to chewing gum for sale in a restaurant. Cuban models of the KINGS OF SALSA, a show by british theater producer Jon Lee, pose during a photoshoot in a garage against the backdrop of the Che Guevara image, 2007. Old cuban couple dances at christmas eve next to a Che Guevara image and a christmas tree, 1992. Replica of the Che Guevara Bolivia diary showing Oct 6th and 7th, the last days that Che wrote in the diary, before he was caught on Oct 8th, 1967. Vallegrande, Bolvia, 2019. People gather under the statue of Che Guevara after the end of a political act at the Plaza de la Revolucion to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the death of Ernesto Che Guevara, on October 8, 2017 in Santa Clara, Cuba.

The remains of Che and other fellow guerilla fighters finally arrived in October. Their flag draped chests were first laid out in Havana for the Habaneros to pay tribute to the historic Commander and his comrades. They were then brought with a motorcade to Santa Clara, for 2 more days of homage there, before they were laid to rest in a mausoleum on October 17, 1997, 30 years and 8 days after Che was killed in La Higuera, a small village in the mountains of Bolivia.

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PS: When I told my friend that I would not be able to be at his wedding, he said it was ok. But I am not 100% sure if that is really the case. These things hurt, especially for the non-journalistic human beings, that many times have a hard time understanding when we, the news-addicted, once again, have to cancel an appointment, a dinner, a vacation or even the invitation to be best man at a wedding.

PPS: The pictures are a compilation of images I shot covering stories about Che Guevara, both in Cuba and in Bolivia.

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