The DR-13-M, at the time just called “Directorio Revolucionario” (DR), was founded in 1954 as a Catholic student group opposed to the Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista,[1] defining its principles as political liberty, economic independence, and social justice.

[3] In 1957, the group coordinated an attack on Batista's Presidential Palace organised by DR-13-M leader José Antonio Echeverría, who died the same day in a related incident, and the opening of a second front in the Escambray Mountains, which was taken over by Che Guevara.

The death of Echeverría and other leaders led to the virtual collapse of the group, and its remaining membership largely joined the Escambray front under the leadership of the 26th of July Movement.

[2] After the death of Echevarría, the leadership passed to Faure Chomón and Rolando Cubela Secades in the urban underground and the Escambray Mountain insurrection, respectively.

It called for the restoration of the Constitution of 1940, and for social revolution, while attacking "those who only a few years ago supported the Nazis in the conquered lands of Europe".