Page 81 - History of War - Issue 05-14

TRIGGER POINT: THE FALKLANDS WAR

Another reason for the Junta’s decision to On the morning of 2 April, Governor Hunt met showing their support for the regime and the
invade the Falklands as a matter of urgency with Admiral Büsser, Argentine Commander in invasion. One Professor said, “We are drunken
was because 1983 would see the 150-year charge of the invasion, and starkly reminded with patriotic feelings, we are standing proud,
anniversary of the British occupation of the him, “This is British territory. You are not invited because we are witnesses and participants of a
islands. The possibility of an increased sense here. We don’t want you here. I want you to go, rescue promised to the blood of our forebears.
of British ownership might further reduce the and to take all your men with you now!” Admiral National joy is as wide as understandable.”
Argentine’s bargaining position. So time was of Büsser was not easily deterred, however, and As a result of this huge outpouring of support,
the essence as the opportunity for Argentina to responded, saying “I've got 800 men ashore, the Junta now found itself in a difficult position:
lay claim to the Falklands was closing quickly. another 2,000 on the way. We don’t want to if Britain was to respond to its plans by military
With demonstrations breaking out on the kill any of these Marines. We thought that if we action, then it would be forced to pursue an
streets of Argentina, the Junta decided to came in such numbers they would not fight. I unanticipated war because withdrawing in the
launch a full-scale invasion, before any British want you to stop the action now before Marines face of such nationalistic fervour would cause
submarines could reach the area to enforce an are killed and civilians of Stanley are killed.” the Junta to lose its last vestige of support
Argentine evacuation. They agreed to launch Hunt was forced to surrender and accept the from its domestic allies, namely the elite
the invasion at a meeting on 26 March 1982, a inevitability of military invasion, before being oligarchy, whose backing it required to continue
mission they codenamed Operación Rosario. forcibly evicted from his position and imprisoned authoritarian rule.
Tensions between Britain and Argentina had in Montevideo, Uruguay. The decision to invade the Falkland Islands
been increasing throughout March but the Two days later, on 4 April, Argentine forces was one borne of sheer desperation as
trigger that led to a full-scale invasion was when captured the Falkland Islands, leading to the Argentina sought to reclaim its world position
a group of Argentine scrap metal merchants British deployment of a naval and amphibious of 60 years before. But the loss of the war
raised the Argentine flag at South Georgia, a task force to the area, some 8,000 miles away. led to ever-larger protests against the military
provocative act that would later be seen as the The following month on 21 May, British troops regime. It’s credited with being the catalyst that
first offensive action in the war. Governor Rex landed and by 14 June had compelled the drove out the military government that had been
Hunt sent an urgent request for the Argentinians Argentine occupiers to surrender. in power since 1976 and participated in the
to remove the flag and leave the island. In The truth is that the Argentinian Junta didn't crimes of the Dirty War. It is also associated
response, the Argentine government assured actually want a war with Britain: it was hoping with “Thatcherism”. Before the war Margaret
the British that the team of merchants would for a peaceful invasion that would not be met Thatcher was not expected to serve a second
be removed, doing so three days later. However, with military force. The problem was that the term as Prime Minister, but in the euphoria that
unbeknown to the British, 39 members of the Junta’s announcement to reclaim the Falkland followed Britain’s victory, the Conservatives rose
Argentine team remained in place on the island. Islands was met with much greater public to the top of the opinion polls and won the next
support than it was anticipating. Caught up in year’s election by a landslide. Of course, winning
Panic stations a wave of patriotism, massive demonstrations the war was never in doubt for the Iron Lady, who
Britain was also mistakenly under the belief took place in the streets as the Plaza de Mayo famously said, “Defeat? I do not recognise the
that the territory in question at this time was became filled with 250,000 flag-waving citizens meaning of the word.” w
South Georgia, and not the Falkland Islands
themselves. The Government was still convinced
that war was not inevitable at this point, and
was under the impression that the Argentines
were testing British resolve over the sovereignty
of South Georgia, not anticipating that the
Falklands might be the immediate target.
It was 31 March by the time the British
discovered that the Falkland Islands were
the intended target for an Argentine invasion.
Panic erupted throughout political Britain as
they realised what faced them: war. Britain had
reason to worry because Argentina had a strong
advantage militarily, partly due to Britain being
a declining world power, and partly because
budgetary problems had led to a decrease of
funds to the Admiralty.
For Argentina, on the other hand, military
budgets had been rising since 1972, and the
Argentine Navy was considerably better suited
to conduct naval warfare. Furthermore, the
Argentines had a huge advantage in aircraft,
allowing it to sortie aircraft from bases on land.
But there was one area in which Argentina was
at a disadvantage: training and professionalism. Royal Marines line up for a
British troops were skilled and disciplined, weapons check in the hanger
giving them a slight edge in conducting military of HMS Hermes on their way
operations efficiently and successfully. to the Falklands in 1982 PA

1982

26 MARCH 2 APRIL 3-4 APRIL 5 APRIL 21 MAY
Under internal pressure and Governor Hunt meets with The UN Security Council With Argentine forces now in British forces land on the
with a failing economy, the Admiral Büsser to threaten each condemns the invasion and control of the islands, the British Falkland Islands, forming a
Argentinian Junta meet to other with military action unless demands the immediate deploy a naval and amphibious beachhead at San Carlos. Less
discuss an invasion of the one relents. Argentine forces withdrawal of Argentine forces task force to the area, led by the than a month later, on 14 June,
Falklands. It decides to go ahead invade the Falkland Islands, aircraft carriers HMS Invincible the Argentine army surrenders in
and launch Operación Rosario entering through the capital, and HMS Hermes Port Stanley
Port Stanley

HISTORY WAR
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