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Twenty five years ago on the 2nd April 1982 Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands. The military government at that time was run by General Galtieri. Who thought a nationalist invasion would distract people from the problems of a poor economy. Argentina also believed they owned the Falklands Islands. They felt quite sure that Britain wouldn't retaliate.
Britain has had sovereignty of the islands since 1833 but this had happened after an invasion by them. They went because of problems with destruction and rebellion. Argentina always calls the islands Malvinas.
The British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher sent British ships. They would take days to get there as it was 8,000 miles from Britain. Argentina was only 350 miles away from the Falkland Islands. The 1,800 inhabitants of the islands were British and they wanted it to continue to be owned by Britain.
The islands themselves were a quiet remote place. Penguins enjoyed living on the island.
Britain had the support of the United Nations for its reasons for going to war. Although it hoped that things could be settled through peace talks it was having. The battle was fought at sea, in the air and on land. One of the first things Britain had to do was put in place a military exclusion zone of 200 miles around the islands.
The island of South Georgia was the first to be reclaimed early in the fighting on the 25th April.
The RAF was involved with raids across the Islands. Helicopters from The Royal Marine and Army Air corps were also involved.
The most controversial moment during the war came when the British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher gave the go ahead for the Argentine ship the General Belgrano to be sunk. She claimed that it was a danger to British ships although it was not in the exclusion zone. Some say it was moving away from the area and therefore not a danger. 368 men were killed when it sank. Although Margaret Thatcher was criticised she was almost certainly following advice from the military and backing them up. After all they were the ones with the training, the experience, who were there fighting a war. The initial decision surely would have been theirs. If they saw danger they would have defended themselves.
A few days later the Royal navy suffered a loss when HMS Sheffield was struck by an exocet missile causing it to catch fire. This time 22 men were killed when the ship later sank.
In May three other ships sank when they were attacked HMS Ardent, Antelope and Coventry.
It was at Goose Green that Colonel H Jones of 2 Para (Second Parachute Regiment) was killed. His bravery was such he was honoured with the V.C (Victoria Cross). Goose Green had 100 inhabitants and was reclaimed on the 28th May.
It now left Port Stanley to be recaptured. But on the 8th June two British ships Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram were destroyed. They were carrying men and explosive equipment. The attack caused 200 men to be either injured or killed. It was though the Argentines last stand. Britain now had the upper hand. It took Port Stanley on the 14th June with the Argentines surrendering to them.
The loss of life in total was 913. 655 were Argentines and 255 were British including 3 who were residents on the island. The war caused General Galtieri to resign. Democracy in Argentina then came back in 1983. In Britain Margaret Thatcher won another term as Prime Minister in 1983.
Twenty five years ago the Falkland Islands were in financial trouble and Britain didn't know how to solve the problem it wasn't keen to go on pouring money into it. If Argentina had simply bided their time they might have got what they had wanted without much effort. The war though made Britain and the Falkland Islands stronger. Financially the Islands are now doing extremely well and the people themselves are forever grateful to the soldiers who fought for them.
© Children's Web Magazine 2007