Falklands
2nd April 1982
Argentina claimed sovereignty over Falklands.
4th May HMS Sheffield sank (20 dead)
900 Argentinian Prisoners Captured
Galahad set alite (56 Dead)
255 Killed, 775 wounded (British)
11,400 captured, 649 dead, 1657 wounded (Argentinian)
Why did war break out?
>The Falklands (Malvinas) 8,000 miles away from Great Britain, 300 miles away from
Argentina. The Falklands are a part of South America.
>Thatcher had cut Navy expenditure meaning there was 1 ship on patrol in the Falklands,
with 80 troops (Argentinians saw this as a lack of care over the Falklands)
>Thatcher announced the withdrawal of the last British ship in the South Atlantic (HMS
Endurance)
>In 1982, 98% of the population (2000), wished to remain under British Rule.
>Some 4000 Argentinian troops quickly overcame the resistance of the garrison of 22 Royal
Marines.
The Foreign Office wanted a peaceful settlement, and wanted to negotiate, however
Thatcher advocated for military response.
Thatcher, M, (1993), ‘The Dowing Street Years (2)’, BBC
“You can’t negotiate away an invasion when the freedom of your people has been taken by a
cruel dictator. You have got to stand up and have to have the spine to do it”.
>The labour party wanted the British response to be channelled through the United Nations.
>Thatcher was adamant that it was entirely Britain’s responsibility.
>She immediately ordered the retaking of the Falklands (With inspiration from Admiral
Henry Leach)
>5th April 1982: War and Merchant ships sent to the Falklands.
>2nd May, HMS Conqueror sank the Argentinian General Belgrano killing 300 of her crew.
2nd April 1982
Argentina claimed sovereignty over Falklands.
4th May HMS Sheffield sank (20 dead)
900 Argentinian Prisoners Captured
Galahad set alite (56 Dead)
255 Killed, 775 wounded (British)
11,400 captured, 649 dead, 1657 wounded (Argentinian)
Why did war break out?
>The Falklands (Malvinas) 8,000 miles away from Great Britain, 300 miles away from
Argentina. The Falklands are a part of South America.
>Thatcher had cut Navy expenditure meaning there was 1 ship on patrol in the Falklands,
with 80 troops (Argentinians saw this as a lack of care over the Falklands)
>Thatcher announced the withdrawal of the last British ship in the South Atlantic (HMS
Endurance)
>In 1982, 98% of the population (2000), wished to remain under British Rule.
>Some 4000 Argentinian troops quickly overcame the resistance of the garrison of 22 Royal
Marines.
The Foreign Office wanted a peaceful settlement, and wanted to negotiate, however
Thatcher advocated for military response.
Thatcher, M, (1993), ‘The Dowing Street Years (2)’, BBC
“You can’t negotiate away an invasion when the freedom of your people has been taken by a
cruel dictator. You have got to stand up and have to have the spine to do it”.
>The labour party wanted the British response to be channelled through the United Nations.
>Thatcher was adamant that it was entirely Britain’s responsibility.
>She immediately ordered the retaking of the Falklands (With inspiration from Admiral
Henry Leach)
>5th April 1982: War and Merchant ships sent to the Falklands.
>2nd May, HMS Conqueror sank the Argentinian General Belgrano killing 300 of her crew.
