Short History Of...

The Falklands War

February 16, 2026

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  • The sinking of the Argentine cruiser *General Belgrano* on May 2nd, 1982, outside the Total Exclusion Zone, resulted in 323 Argentine deaths and remains a highly controversial event of the Falklands War. 
  • The conflict's roots stretch back centuries, stemming from competing claims between Argentina (based on proximity and historical succession from Spain) and Britain (based on historical settlement and the wishes of the islanders). 
  • The Argentine invasion in April 1982, driven by the faltering military junta seeking to restore prestige, was met by a swift and decisive British naval deployment, leading to a 74-day war that ultimately secured British sovereignty and boosted Margaret Thatcher's political standing. 

Segments

Sinking of General Belgrano
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(00:00:33)
  • Key Takeaway: The Argentine cruiser General Belgrano was struck by torpedoes from HMS Conqueror 40 nautical miles outside the exclusion zone, killing 323 sailors.
  • Summary: On May 2nd, 1982, the General Belgrano, carrying over a thousand men, was sunk by a British submarine. The strike occurred outside the British Total Exclusion Zone, resulting in nearly half of Argentina’s total casualties for the war. Captain Hector Bonzo ordered the crew to abandon ship after two underwater missile hits caused a sharp list.
Origins of Falklands Dispute
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(00:05:07)
  • Key Takeaway: The Falklands dispute has centuries of history, rooted in Argentina’s national identity claim versus Britain’s historical defense citing islander wishes.
  • Summary: Argentina viewed the islands, which it calls Las Islas Malvinas, as integral to its territory, while Britain defended its claim based on historical precedent and the wishes of the inhabitants. Decades of tension exploded into war in April 1982, leaving nearly 1,000 dead.
Early Discovery and Naming
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(00:06:12)
  • Key Takeaway: English Captain John Strong named the strait between the main islands after Lord Falkland in 1690.
  • Summary: In 1690, English Captain John Strong discovered the uninhabited islands and named the sea between the two largest islands after the first Lord of the Admiralty, Lord Falkland. Spain’s control was confirmed by the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht, but France claimed the islands in 1764, establishing Port Louis.
Conflicting Claims Established
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(00:07:54)
  • Key Takeaway: British Commodore John Byron claimed West Falkland for Britain the year after the French settlement was established.
  • Summary: Commodore John Byron claimed the islands for Britain in 1765, leading to a confrontation with the French at Port Louis. France ceded its claim to Spain, but Britain withdrew its garrison in 1774, leaving behind a plaque asserting their claim.
Argentine Independence and Occupation
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(00:09:06)
  • Key Takeaway: Following Spanish American Empire collapse, Argentina claimed the islands and occupied them until the Royal Navy expelled their garrison in 1833.
  • Summary: When the Spanish American Empire collapsed, Argentina believed the islands were theirs and semi-occupied the territory. In 1833, the Royal Navy expelled the Argentine garrison, and Britain occupied the islands permanently thereafter. Islanders sustained themselves through whaling, sealing, and sheep farming.
Decolonization and UN Involvement
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(00:10:38)
  • Key Takeaway: UN Resolution 2065 in 1965 recognized a sovereignty dispute and urged negotiations between the UK and Argentina.
  • Summary: As decolonization swept the world, Argentina brought the dispute to the UN, arguing the islands were a colonial leftover. The UN recognized the dispute, but a 1968 agreement to transfer sovereignty failed due to islander rebellion in the UK Parliament. A promise was then made that sovereignty would not change against the islanders’ wishes.
Leaseback Negotiations Fail
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(00:14:06)
  • Key Takeaway: Islanders strongly resisted power-sharing or leaseback plans proposed by the British Foreign Office in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
  • Summary: Negotiations stalled as islanders refused any deal making them Argentine, leading to proposals like paying islanders to move to New Zealand, which also failed. In 1971, an air/sea bridge was established to improve communications, but this did not increase enthusiasm for joining the mainland.
Argentine Junta Rises to Power
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(00:15:44)
  • Key Takeaway: The far-right military junta, led by General Jorge Rafael Videla, seized power in 1976, initiating the brutal ‘Dirty War’.
  • Summary: Following Isabel Perón’s struggles with inflation and political violence, the military staged a coup in March 1976. The junta launched the ’national reorganization process,’ which became known as the ‘Dirty War,’ characterized by brutal repression against perceived subversives.
Galtieri’s Invasion Plan
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(00:18:50)
  • Key Takeaway: General Leopoldo Galtieri’s junta planned to invade in 1983 to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the 1833 British seizure.
  • Summary: With Argentina’s economy failing, Galtieri sought bold action to restore prestige, making the Falklands retrieval a condition for Admiral Anaya joining the ruling ‘Hunter’ group. The original plan involved testing British resolve for a peaceful transfer before resorting to invasion later in 1982 or 1983.
South Georgia Incident Triggers War
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(00:21:17)
  • Key Takeaway: Leaks suggesting Britain would reinforce South Atlantic defenses caused the Argentine junta to accelerate its invasion timetable.
  • Summary: A dispute over Argentine Marines raising their flag on South Georgia led to a diplomatic standoff, which the junta interpreted as a window of opportunity. Believing the British would soon strengthen defenses, the junta brought forward its invasion plan, assuming the UK would accept the fait accompli.
Invasion and Initial Defense
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(00:23:04)
  • Key Takeaway: Despite intelligence warnings, the British task force assembly was possible due to existing naval exercises, leading to the April 2nd invasion.
  • Summary: First Sea Lord Sir Henry Leach informed ministers a task force could be sent, surprising the Argentines who expected no serious resistance. Argentine troops landed on April 2nd, and the small British garrison of 68 Royal Marines surrendered after a two-hour defense of Government House.
British Task Force Deployment
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(00:28:05)
  • Key Takeaway: The UN demanded Argentine withdrawal, prompting Britain to commit to force, sailing a 127-ship task force from Portsmouth on April 5th.
  • Summary: The British war cabinet convened immediately following the invasion, assembling the largest naval deployment since WWII. Diplomacy failed as Argentina insisted solely on sovereignty transfer, which the islanders vehemently opposed, making war inevitable.
Naval Confrontation and Belgrano Sinking
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(00:30:10)
  • Key Takeaway: The British task force faced vulnerability due to distance, leading Admiral Woodward to seek permission to sink the General Belgrano to avoid a pincer movement.
  • Summary: The British operated 8,000 miles from home, vulnerable to Argentine air and submarine attacks, while Argentina was only 300 miles away. Slow communication meant hours passed before the Conqueror sank the Belgrano, an action driven by tactical necessity rather than political conspiracy.
HMS Sheffield Loss and Bomb Alley
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(00:34:41)
  • Key Takeaway: The Argentine air force inflicted significant losses, including the sinking of HMS Sheffield by an Exocet missile on May 4th.
  • Summary: Following the Belgrano sinking, the Argentine air force continued harassment, culminating in the loss of HMS Sheffield, the first British ship lost in combat since WWII. The main amphibious landing at Port San Carlos became known as ‘Bomb Alley’ due to relentless Argentine air attacks.
The Battle of Goose Green
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(00:37:18)
  • Key Takeaway: The Battle of Goose Green, the first major land clash, was a crucial turning point where British forces, despite underestimation, secured a morale advantage.
  • Summary: Around 1,200 Argentine soldiers defended Goose Green against a smaller British force led by the aggressive Lieutenant Colonel Herbert Jones. The British victory, achieved at the cost of Jones’s life (earning him a posthumous Victoria Cross), demonstrated British military superiority over the less well-led Argentine conscripts.
Bluff Cove Tragedy
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(00:44:29)
  • Key Takeaway: The loss of the supply ship Sir Galahad at Bluff Cove on June 8th, killing 51 British servicemen, was one of the campaign’s darkest moments.
  • Summary: Argentine aircraft attacked reinforcement ships Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram while they were unloading near Stanley. The resulting fire and explosion on Sir Galahad caused massive casualties among the Welsh Guards. The destruction of the vital supply ship Atlantic Conveyor forced troops to march the final distance to Stanley on foot.
End of the War and Aftermath
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(00:45:42)
  • Key Takeaway: Argentine Commander General Mario Menendez surrendered on June 14th, ending 74 days of fighting, leading to political collapse in Argentina and a boost for Thatcher in the UK.
  • Summary: After taking the surrounding high ground, the battered Argentine garrison in Stanley surrendered, concluding the conflict quickly because neither side could easily reinforce their positions. The defeat led to General Galtieri’s removal and the eventual collapse of the Argentine junta, while Thatcher’s government received a significant political boost.
Post-War Consequences
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(00:50:43)
  • Key Takeaway: The war resulted in 907 total deaths and spurred a shift in recognizing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among veterans.
  • Summary: The conflict paradoxically improved the Falklands’ viability; post-war investment doubled the population and secured full British citizenship for residents. In Argentina, the military dictatorship collapsed, while in Britain, the victory solidified Thatcher’s political dominance throughout the 1980s.