The Malvinas/Falklands

War
Atilio Bordes Cobos & Mario Villamar

blogericbentz.blogspot.com

Long term-causes

Dispute over land begun 150 years before the

war.
Remnant of the British Empire.
Argentina raised their flag and claimed the
islands in 1820.
Britain started occupying the islands since 1833
and gave them colonial status in 1892.

Short term-causes
Military regime in Argentina.
- Several economic issues.
In Margaret Thatcher's Britain there were
economic problems.
- Rioting 9 months before.
- 3 million were unemployed.
Both countries desired distraction from
domestic issues.

Short term-causes
Dirty War in Argentina
Results in Galiteris regime Fascist style
dictatorship
He was under pressure for political success
and stability
First female Prime Minister in England but
lacked authority over own conservative
Party.
Falkland Island Company was determined to
prevent a handover.

Pre-determined War Plans

The Argentine Navy had two plans to take
back the Malvinas:
Project Alpha.- to set up an Argentine
presence on South Georgia (an island
approximately 1400km from the Falklands)
Operation Azul.- A Full Scale Invasion. It was
scheduled between the end of May and mid
July after the removal of HMS Endurance.
Its removal would limit the British
resistance.

Immediate Cause of War: Role

of Navies

December 1981: Project Alpha begun.

Argentine Navy landed 42 workers at Leith
(South Georgia).

March 1982: British concerned and sent HMS

Endurance to South Georgia to remove them.
During that time, rumours of an imminent war
were set by the British press and suggested
that the Endurance would be joined by nuclear
submarines.

Immediate Cause of War: Role of

Navies

Admiral Anaya convinced the Argentine junta

that reports in British media stated that nuclear
submarines were being sent to defend the
islands, and they needed to start quick before
the British could get forces on the region.

What was the situation in 1982?

Argentina decide to put pressure on the UN.

-The discussions begun in 1964 and continue
until 1982.
-Resolution 2065(adopted in 1965).
More British people live in Argentina than in the
islands.
The islands were very important for Argentina
for trading.
However for Britain they have a little strategic
and economic value.
Islanders want to still be British.

Resolution 2065

Recognized the existence of a sovereignty dispute

betweenUnited Kingdom and Argentina over
theFalkland Islands. Also recognized that the case
of the Falklands is framed in a colonial situation,
which should be solved taking into consideration
those expressed inUnited Nations General
Assembly Resolution 1514 (XV), where the goal of
eliminating all forms of colonialism was established.
The resolution invites the parties to find a peaceful
solution to the problem bearing in mind the
provisions of 1514 and taking into consideration
the interests of the inhabitants of the islands

DEVELOPME
NT OF THE
WAR

Operation Rosario

Operation Rosario (modified version of

Operation Azul)
Operation Rosario was drawn up and on March
28-30 an invasion force headed for the
Malvinas.
The force was made of an ex-American tank
landing ship, 20 US-built landing vehicles, 900
troops supported by two destroyers and two
frigates. To the north of the force was an
aircraft carrier and the rest of the navy.

Invasion
April 2 1982: Argentina began their attack on the
capital of the Malvinas, Stanley. British resisted
until they ran out of ammunition. British
commanders ordered to cease fire.
April 3, 1982:
Argentine forces take South Georgia
Margaret Thatcher announces that a task force will
sail to the South Atlantic
United Nations General Assembly passes resolution
502 calling for the cessation of hostilities,
withdrawal of Argentine troops and the resumption
of sovereignty talks between Britain and Argentina.

Resolution 502

Image

Development of the war

April 5, 1982: British carriers Hermes and

Invincible set sail.
April 12, 1982: UK announces a maritime
exclusion zone (later it became a total exclusion
zone) 200 miles around the islands. During
theFalklands Warany ship or aircraft entering
the zone could have been fired without any
warning.
General Menendez was the Argentine governor
of the Falklands.

Development of the war

May 2, 1982: Argentine cruiser General

Belgrano was sunk by British.
May 4, 1982: HMS Sheffield was hit by
Argentine Exocet missile.
May 20-25, 1982: HMS Antelope, HMS
Coventry and HMS Ardent are sunk.

Development of the war

War developed in the sea and in the air. British

Sea Harrier planes and anti-aircraft artillery
were destroying the Argentinas air force.
In the sea, Exocet missiles played a significant
role since they were able to destroy warships.
British needed to protect the two aircraft
carriers.

Development of the war

May 28, 1982: British won at the Battle for

Darwin Hill and Goose Green.
June 8: Royal Fleet Auxiliaries Sir Galahad and Sir
Tristram bombed.
June 11-12: British attacks onMount
Longdon,TwoSistersandMount Harriet.
June 13-14: British forces take Tumbledown
Mountain, Wireless Ridge and Mount William
approaching Port Stanley.
June 14:Argentine General Menendez
surrenders to British Major-General Jeremy Moore.

Why did Britain win the Falklands

War?

British advantages
British were bettter trained and prepared for
the conditions. British Royal Marine
Commandos were trained for cold weather and
amphibious warfare.
The British used their position on the Security
Council of the UN in their favour.
The British forces maintained a high morale.

Why did Britain win the Falklands

War?
Argentine disadvantages
The soldiers were not as well trained and
lacked confidence.
Flawed stratregies. The argentines attacked
warships instead of the weaker British
vessels.
Weaponry failings.
Lack of allies in the battlefield.

Aftermath of the Falklands War

Political Consequences
Galtieris regime lost supporters because of
the failure in the Falklands War. Population
protested and caused the downfall of the
military government. Argentina returned to
democracy.
Government of Margaret Thatcher was
strengthened ans she was seen as a hero.
The war led to her victory in the 1983s
general election.

Aftermath of the Falklands

War
Nearly a thousands of people died.
Almost 700 Argentines and 252 British.
The war ended without a peace treaty.

Important Characters

blog.ted.com

www.telegraph.co.uk

elnacionalista.mforos.com

www.perfil.com

References

Encyclopaedia Britannica
The Telegraph. (n.d.). Key events in the Falklands
War. Retrieved from
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/14351
29/Key-events-in-the-Falklands-War.html
C N Trueman "Timeline Of Falklands War Of 1982"
historylearningsite.co.uk. The History Learning
Site, 26 May 2015. 20 Nov 2015.
https://prezi.com/j89wqvzhbr5r/falklandsmalvinas
-war/