Events leading to the Falklands War facts for kids

The 1982 Falklands War (called Guerra de Malvinas in Spanish) was a fight between the United Kingdom and Argentina. They disagreed over who owned the Falkland Islands and South Georgia.

Background to the Conflict

The Falkland Islands have been a place of disagreement almost since people first settled there in 1764. Great Britain (and later the United Kingdom) and other countries like France, Spain, and later Argentina, all claimed the islands.

In 1833, Britain sent a naval force to the islands to take back control. The Argentine leaders on the islands left peacefully. The people living there were allowed to stay. The islands remained under British control from then until 1982.

Building Up to War

Margaret Thatcher

Leopoldo Galtieri

From 1976 to 1983, Argentina was ruled by a military government. This government was called the National Reorganization Process. It was a very difficult time, with a terrible economic crisis. The military government treated many Argentine citizens badly because they disagreed with the government. This period was known as the Dirty War.

General Jorge Rafael Videla took power after a military takeover. Later, General Leopoldo Galtieri became the leader. Before the Falklands War, people in Argentina were becoming very unhappy with Galtieri's rule. The country faced huge price increases and its economy was shrinking. People were planning big protests against the government.

President Galtieri wanted to make people forget about the economic problems and human rights issues. He thought a quick victory over the Falklands would make Argentines feel proud and nationalistic. Argentina also thought the United States might not get involved if they invaded. This was because Argentina had been helping the US in other parts of the world.

Argentina hinted at a possible invasion at the United Nations. But Britain either didn't notice or didn't react strongly enough. The Argentines believed Britain would not use force if they invaded the islands.

British sources say Argentina thought Britain wasn't interested in the Falklands. This was partly because Britain was planning to reduce the size of its Royal Navy. Also, a new law in 1981 changed the full British citizenship of Falkland Islanders to a more limited version.

In 1976, Argentina secretly landed 50 soldiers on Southern Thule, which was a British island. They set up a military base there. Britain protested this and tried to solve it through talks. Britain later sent a small armed force, Operation Journeyman, to the area.

Reports from British intelligence suggested that Argentina would likely use force if talks about who owned the islands broke down.

Getting Ready for Action

First Steps

On December 9, 1981, Admiral Jorge Anaya and General Leopoldo Galtieri discussed how to take over the government. Anaya offered the navy's support if they could invade the Falkland Islands and South Georgia. Galtieri hoped that a successful invasion would make him popular and keep him in power for a long time.

A few days later, Admiral Anaya told Vice-Admiral Juan Lombardo to plan the invasion of the Falkland Islands. Lombardo was told to "take them but not necessarily to keep them." Anaya stressed that the plan must be kept absolutely secret.

Lombardo later asked for more details. He wanted to know if it would be a joint operation with other military branches. He also asked if they planned to keep the islands or hand them over to someone else. Anaya confirmed it would be a joint operation, but others had not yet been told. He also said the navy's job was to take the islands, and the government would decide what happened next. They didn't think Britain would fight back.

The Air Force leader, Brigadier Basilio Lami Dozo, wasn't told about the plan until December 29. Even the Foreign Minister didn't know about the invasion plans while he was trying to find a diplomatic solution in January 1982.

Planning the Invasion

Detailed planning for the invasion started in early January 1982. The plan was to land 3,000 troops quickly to avoid a lot of fighting. The British Royal Marines and officials would be sent away. Most of the invasion force would leave within 48 hours. A military governor and about 500 police would stay to control the islanders. The original idea to replace all islanders with Argentines was dropped because it would upset other countries.

An Argentine company had built a temporary runway near Stanley for Britain. The Argentine airline LADE flew regularly to the Falkland Islands. A LADE representative in Port Stanley had been gathering information for four years. An Argentine cargo ship also had detailed information about the Falkland coast.

Britain was selling military equipment at the time. An Argentine naval officer in London was even invited to visit a British warship. He talked with British sailors about their navy's weaknesses.

Talks about who owned the islands stopped in January 1982. Many people thought the Falklands invasion was planned for a long time. But after the war, it became clear that defending the islands was largely made up as they went along. For example, sea mines were not placed in important landing spots. Also, many of the soldiers sent to the Falklands had only just started their training. This suggests the war was a last-minute decision.

Argentina's Goals

The Argentine Navy had modern destroyers similar to those used by the British. Training attacks showed that Argentina might lose many planes trying to destroy British warships. So, the Argentine Air Force planned to attack at low levels.

Argentina was also close to war with Chile for several years. Argentine military leaders worried that Chile would attack them if they invaded the Falklands. So, a lot of Argentina's military forces stayed on the mainland. During the war, Chile did move forces to its border, possibly preparing for an invasion or trying to distract Argentina.

Argentina's first plan was a quick, symbolic takeover, then a withdrawal, leaving only a small group of soldiers. They believed Britain would not fight back. But strong public support in Argentina and Britain's quick reaction forced the Argentine government to change their plans. They had to send more troops to the islands because they couldn't afford to lose them once Britain decided to fight. The Argentine leaders misjudged Britain, thinking democracies were weak and wouldn't take risks. They didn't expect Britain to send its fleet across the world.

Landings on South Georgia

In 1980, Admiral Edgardo Otero wanted to set up a military base on South Georgia. This was called Operation Alpha. Admiral Lombardo worried this would hurt the secret plans for the Falklands invasion. But Admiral Anaya approved Operation Alpha anyway.

An Argentine businessman named Constantino Davidoff had a contract to scrap an old whaling station on South Georgia. In December 1981, he went to South Georgia. His group landed without telling the British base at Grytviken. This led to formal protests from the British government.

Davidoff apologized and promised his men would follow rules next time. He got permission to continue. On March 11, the ship ARA Bahía Buen Suceso sailed with Davidoff's workers. But Argentine marines were secretly among the workers. Operation Alpha had begun.

When they arrived on March 19, the group again ignored the rules and went straight to Leith Harbour. A British team found that the Argentine workers had set up a camp, damaged British signs, and shot reindeer. They also saw men in military uniform and the Argentine flag flying.

HMS Endurance at Mar del Plata naval base, during her trip to the Falklands in February 1982

Britain protested again. The British told the Argentine ship to take down the flag and report to the British administrator. The Argentines refused to have their passports stamped because it would mean they accepted British rule. The flag was lowered, and the ship left, but some men stayed behind. On March 21, HMS Endurance sailed with 22 Royal Marines to remove the men. But to avoid more tension, Britain ordered Endurance to wait.

The Argentine government then ordered another ship, ARA Bahía Paraíso, to land special forces. Instead of fighting, the Royal Marines were told to set up a lookout post. The full group of Royal Marines didn't land until March 31, when it became clear Argentina planned to take the Falkland Islands. The Grytviken Base was attacked the day after the Falklands, because of bad weather.

Failed Peace Talks

During the conflict, Britain and Argentina did not talk directly. Other countries acted as go-betweens. The United Nations Secretary-General, Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, tried to make peace but failed.

Peru and Switzerland tried hard to prevent war. Peru's president, Fernando Belaúnde Terry, proposed a peace plan on May 1. But Argentina rejected it after the cruiser ARA Belgrano was sunk on May 2.

The Invasion

The British Government warned Rex Masterman Hunt, the Governor of the Falkland Islands, about a possible Argentine invasion on April 1. Governor Hunt organized a defense with a small group of Royal Marines. The Argentine special forces landed at Mullet Creek.

They attacked buildings in and around Port Stanley, including Government House. The Falkland Islands government surrendered on April 2. One Argentine soldier was killed during the main invasion. Three more Argentines died fighting to take South Georgia.

The British Task Force

Key locations for the Task Force's supplies

Britain quickly put diplomatic pressure on Argentina. Because the Falklands were so far away, Britain had to send a large naval force. This force was called Task Force 317. It included HMS Hermes and HMS Invincible, which were aircraft carriers. They carried only 20 Fleet Air Arm (FAA) Sea Harrier jets to defend against Argentina's air force. The task force had to be able to supply itself and fight far from home.

Another part of the force was the Amphibious Group, which carried soldiers. This group included 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marines, and parts of the British Army. Most of these soldiers were on the cruise ship Canberra, which was quickly taken for the war.

A third part was the Submarine Group, with three or four submarines. The UK declared a "total exclusion zone" of about 370 kilometers (200 nautical miles) around the Falkland Islands. No ships from any country were allowed in this zone.

During the war, 43 British merchant ships helped supply the task force. Cargo ships and tankers carried fuel and water. They created a 13,000-kilometer (8,000-mile) supply line between Britain and the South Atlantic.

Before the war officially began on May 1, Argentine Boeing 707 planes watched the Task Force. One of these planes was spotted outside the exclusion zone. But it was not attacked because peace talks were still happening.

Prince Andrew, who was then second in line to the British throne, served as a helicopter co-pilot during the war. He flew Sea King helicopters from HMS Invincible. He helped with anti-submarine patrols, moving injured people, transport, and search and rescue.

The British called their counter-invasion Operation Corporate. When the task force sailed, a news magazine called Newsweek had a headline that said "The Empire Strikes Back." This was a funny reference to a recent Star Wars movie and the old British Empire.

Public Opinion

In the United Kingdom, most people supported the effort to take back the islands. But international opinion was mixed. Some saw Britain as a former colonial power trying to reclaim land from a local country. Argentina used this idea to gain support. Others supported Britain because it was a stable democracy attacked by a military government. They also believed the islanders should decide their own future, and they wanted to remain British. Most European countries, members of the Commonwealth, and eventually the United States, supported Britain.

In nearby Uruguay, people generally supported Argentina. But Uruguay's military government decided to stay neutral to avoid getting involved in the war.

The United Nations' Role

Britain's diplomacy focused on arguing that the Falkland Islanders had the right to decide their own future, a principle of the United Nations (UN). Britain also showed it was willing to compromise. The UN Secretary-General was surprised by Britain's offer. But Argentina rejected it. The Argentine government had huge public support for the invasion at home, so they couldn't back down. They based their claims on historical rights to the territory from before 1945, when the UN was created.

On April 3, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 502. This resolution called for Argentina to withdraw its troops and stop fighting. On April 10, the European Community approved trade sanctions against Argentina. President Ronald Reagan and the United States did not directly condemn Argentina. Instead, they gave intelligence support to the British armed forces.

US Diplomacy and Involvement

At first, it seemed the US had military agreements with both sides. They were part of NATO with the UK and had the "Rio Pact" with Argentina. However, the NATO treaty only applies if an attack happens in Europe or North America. The Rio Pact only applies if one of its members is attacked, and Britain never attacked Argentina.

In March, US Secretary of State Alexander Haig warned Argentina not to invade. President Reagan asked Argentina's Galtieri not to invade and offered his Vice-President, George H. W. Bush, to help find a solution. But Argentina refused.

The Reagan Administration was divided on what to do. Some, like Haig, wanted to support Britain to keep the NATO alliance strong. Others worried that supporting Britain would hurt US efforts against communism in Latin America.

The White House stayed neutral for a while. Reagan famously said he couldn't understand why two allies were fighting over "that little ice-cold bunch of land down there." But he eventually agreed with Haig and Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger to support Britain. Haig tried to mediate between London and Buenos Aires. During this time, the US Department of Defense secretly started helping and supplying the British military. Haig told Argentina that Britain would fight and that the US would support Britain. He didn't know the US was already providing help.

The US Sides with Britain

At the end of April, Reagan blamed Argentina for the failed peace talks. He declared US support for Britain and announced economic penalties against Argentina.

In June, US ambassador to the UN, Jeane Kirkpatrick, made a mistake. She voted against a UN resolution for a ceasefire, then announced she was supposed to not vote at all. This was blamed on a communication delay.

Galtieri and his government thought Britain would not fight back. But Margaret Thatcher, Britain's Prime Minister, said the democratic rights of the Falkland Islanders had been attacked. She declared Britain would not give up the islands to Argentina. The British press mostly supported her, which helped her at home.

Caspar Weinberger, United States Secretary of Defense from 1981 to 1987

The Argentine military government believed the US would stay completely neutral. This was because Argentina had helped the Reagan administration in Central America. But they underestimated the strong "special relationship" between the US and UK.

Argentina also thought democracies were weak and afraid of risks. In Britain, there was much debate about the war. But despite their own views, opposition parties strongly supported the government during the crisis. They wanted to show a united front.

The US was worried about the Soviet Union and the spread of communism. They also thought Britain could handle the conflict alone. This might have influenced the US to stay out of the direct fighting. During the Cold War, it was better for Britain to handle a conflict it could manage without US help.

American non-interference was very important for the US-British relationship. Ascension Island, a British territory, was vital for supplying the Task Force. The airbase there was run by the US. The American commander was ordered to help Britain in every way. For a short time, Ascension Air Field was one of the busiest airports in the world.

The most important help from NATO was intelligence information. Also, the US quickly supplied the latest AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles. These missiles helped the British jets a lot.

Margaret Thatcher said that without the Harrier jets and their new Sidewinder missiles from Caspar Weinberger, Britain could never have taken back the Falklands.

In early May, Caspar Weinberger offered to let Britain use an American aircraft carrier. This seemed very generous. Rear Admiral Woodward noted that losing the British carrier Invincible would have been a big problem, but losing Hermes would have ended the whole operation. Weinberger admitted there would have been many problems if Britain had taken the offer. For example, it would have meant US personnel getting directly involved in the war.

Both Weinberger and Reagan later received a high British honor, the Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE). Some American critics said that by not siding with Argentina, the US went against its own Monroe Doctrine.

In 2001, the President of Mexico, Vicente Fox, said the conflict showed that the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance had failed. This treaty is supposed to provide mutual defense. However, in this conflict, Argentina was the one who attacked first.

Soviet Union's Role

The Soviet Union mostly stayed out of the conflict. Both Britain (a NATO member) and Argentina (an anti-Communist country) were seen as enemies by the USSR.

The USSR had several bases in Antarctica, some not far from the conflict area. They also had many fishing boats and "research vessels" in the region that could be used for other purposes.

Some sources suggest that Soviet electronic spy ships watched the British task force. The US did not share its intelligence with the Soviets.

European Support

The European Community, which Britain was a part of, fully supported Britain. They opposed Argentina's invasion and supported the UN Resolution asking Argentina to leave the islands. When Argentina refused, the Community announced economic penalties against Argentina. Today, the European Union recognizes Britain's claim to the islands. All member states (except Spain, which is neutral) agree with this.

French Involvement

The President of France, François Mitterrand, fully supported the UK in the Falklands War. Sir John Nott, the British Secretary of State for Defence, said that Mitterrand and the French were Britain's "greatest allies."

Much of Argentina's military equipment was made in France, so French support was very important. Sir John Nott said that France provided Mirage and Etendard aircraft, which were the same as those sold to Argentina. British pilots trained against these planes. France also gave Britain secret information to help fight the Exocet missiles it had sold to Argentina. This included details about special electronic defenses. Margaret Thatcher said she never forgot the help Mitterrand gave during the crisis.

France had recently sold Super Etendard aircraft and Exocet missiles to the Argentine Navy. A French team was still in Argentina helping to prepare these for use at the start of the war. Argentina claims the team left after the April 2 invasion. But some sources suggest the French team continued to help Argentina throughout the war, despite the NATO ban and official French policy.

Latin American Involvement

Argentina received military help only from Peru. Peru's president, Fernando Belaúnde Terry, announced his country was "ready to support Argentina with all the resources it needed." This included aircraft supplies like long-range fuel tanks and spare parts.

Cuba and Bolivia offered ground troops, but Argentina saw these offers as political gestures and did not accept them. Cuba was also heavily involved in a war in Angola at the time.

Some historians say that while most South American governments publicly supported Argentina, many were privately happy with the war's outcome. This was because Argentina had been aggressive towards Chile and had interfered in other countries.

Chilean Involvement

Neighboring Chile, under Augusto Pinochet's government, was one of the main Latin American countries to support Britain (though indirectly). Chile helped by creating a military and naval distraction for Argentina. In 1978, Argentina had planned to invade islands near Cape Horn but stopped the operation.

The Argentine government planned to take the disputed Beagle Channel islands after invading the Falklands. Basilio Lami Dozo, the Argentine Air Force commander, said that Galtieri told him Chile would be "next in turn." This intention was likely known by the Chilean government.

Chile provided Britain with "limited, but significant information." Margaret Thatcher said General Pinochet gave Britain "vital" intelligence during the war, which saved British lives. She claimed the Chilean Air Force often warned Britain about incoming Argentine Air Force attacks. When Chile's long-range radar was off for maintenance, Argentine planes were able to bomb British ships, causing many casualties.

Colombian Support

Colombia had good relations with Argentina but sided with the United Kingdom. When the Organisation of American States voted on a resolution supporting Argentina's claim, Colombia chose not to vote, along with Chile, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States.

Commonwealth Support

The Commonwealth of Nations, which includes the United Kingdom, condemned the invasion of the Falklands. They publicly supported the UK as the rightful owner of the islands. New Zealand offered its frigates, HMNZS Canterbury and HMNZS Waikato, to replace British ships in the Indian Ocean. This freed up British ships to go to the Falklands. New Zealand and South Africa also ended diplomatic relations with Argentina. Australia and New Zealand placed economic penalties on Argentina.