THE REAL WAR
The Falklands War was a short conflict between the United Kingdom and Argentina between April and June of 1982. The centre of the dispute were the Falkland Islands, a small British colony off the coast of Argentina, about the size of Wales, with a population of only two thousand. Argentina has always claimed the islands which it calls the Malvinas.
Discussions over the sovereignty of the islands had been going on for several years but had recently stalled. Tensions rose when Argentine scrap-merchants landed at South Georgia, a Falkland dependency, and planted an Argentine flag. The fascist regime in Argentina, under mounting pressure due to the domestic economic situation, decided to take advantage of the situation. The Argentine president, General Galtieri gambled that Britain was not seriously interested in defended the Falklands and, on 2nd April, ordered an invasion. The small garrison of 40 Royal Marines on the island was quickly overwhelmed and the Governor of the Falklands had little choice but to surrender.
Back in London, the cabinet was unaware of what was happening. Intelligence sources had warned that an attack was imminent, but lines of communication to the Falklands had been cut, and confirmation was only received by listening to Argentinian television broadcasts.
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher decided to send a task force to the Islands, thereby putting pressure on the Argentines to withdraw. Few believed that it would be called upon to fight. The USA began mediation between the two countries. But neither side was willing compromise, with neither believing that the other side was prepared to fight a war. They were both wrong.
On the 21st April, a force of Royal Marine Commandos and elite SAS recaptured South Georgia. A 200 mile exclusion zone was set up around the Islands; any Argentine ships inside would be sunk without warning. On the 1st May, on the orders of the Cabinet, the Argentine cruiser Belgrano was sunk - outside of the exclusion zone. It was the first submarine attack since the Second World War, and the first time a nuclear submarine had ever fired a shot in anger. From then on there was no turning back. Argentina launched bomber attacks on the British task force which was growing to include most of the Royal Navy, as well as many requisitioned commercial lines. Exocet missiles, bought from the French, were used to sink HMS Sheffield. The navy suffered considerable losses, few ships ended the war without some damage.
However, Argentina was taking its own losses, its air-force paying a terrible price for daring attacks. On 21st May, British forces established a beach-head at San Carlos Water. Most of the force's helicopters had been destroyed when the Atlantic Conveyer was sunk, and troops had to "yomp" across devastating terrain to attack Argentine positions. A bloody battle was fort at Goose Green until the Argentines surrendered to the British Paras.
British attention then turned to the capital, Port Stanley. The tide of the war had now turned firmly in Britain's favour. Despite a major set-back when the transport Sir Galahad was sunk, British forces fought their way onto the hills surrounding the capital. A final bloody battle for Port Stanley seemed likely, but was avoided when Argentine forces on the island surrendered. The Argentine troops were repatriated to the mainland soon after. Galtieri was forced to resign and his fascist junta collapsed soon afterwards, paving the way for democracy in Argentina. Margaret Thatcher went on to win the next general election by a landslide and became the longest serving Prime Minister in living memory.
Argentina has never renounced its claim to the islands.