1. To what extent were Galtieri & Thatcher pressured by other generals/leaders to go to war over the Falklands?
2. Describe Argentina’s naval plan to take back the Malvinas. (2 stages)
3. What was the purpose of the HMS Endurance?
4. Why doesn’t PM Thatcher settle this dispute diplomatically?
5. Who did the U.S. side with? Why?
6. Why did Britain want to publicize the movement of their task force?
7. THINKER: Do you think Britain’s position in the UN security council benefitted them during the conflict? Why or why not? Do you think the
UN should’ve reacted differently? Explain!

• Admiral Jorge Anaya was the driving force in the Junta's decision to invade the Falklands
• Never believed the UK would respond militarily.
• Their goal: mobilize Argentines' patriotic feelings towards the islands and thus divert public attention from the country's economic problems and the regime's ongoing human rights violations

• Est. presence on S. Georgia
• Launch full scale invasion
• Avoid TEZ w/ aircraft
• Keep in mind: the Royal
Navy was in the middle of military cutbacks that eliminated its force of aircraft carriers & amphibious vehicles

FAA pilots plan during the war
• Argentine Air Force: (Fuerza Aérea Argentina; FAA)
• Due to the distance required to fly to the islands, two minutes was the average time FAA attack aircraft had available in the target area.

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

How did the movement of the HMS Endurance correspond with Argentine military plans?

Why didn’t
Thatcher settle this dispute diplomatically?

• “I knew of the enormous admiration that Mr.
Reagan had for Mrs. Thatcher, and the similar views that they had on many subjects. I never really had any doubt that in the final analysis, in the absence of Britain accepting one of the mediation offers, that we would come down pretty solidly where we did…basically, there was a trust and a friendship, personal friendship as well as professional friendships, all the way along the line. Certainly, the admiration that President Reagan had for
Mrs. Thatcher, I would have found it almost inconceivable that in the final analysis, he would not have supported Britain in this situation.”
– Secretary of Defense Weinberger

• The cover of Newsweek magazine, 19 April
1982, depicts
HMS Hermes, flagship of the British Task Force

• March 19, 1982: group of marines (posing as scrap metal merchants) raised Argentine flag over South Georgia
• April 2, 1982: Argentina sent troops & occupied the Falklands
• April 3: UN Resolution 502 demands withdrawal of all forces; GB announces task force to be sent to reclaim islands
• April 28: Britain establishes a TEZ
• May 2: Britain sinks Argentine battle cruiser
General Belgrano killing 323
• As UN diplomatic talks broke down, it was clear there was no turning back! Neither side officially declared war, but come on…..
Obviously!!!

• Group A: Advisers to General Galtieri advocating FOR war over the Falklands
• Group B: Advisers to General Galtieri advocating
AGAINST war over the Falklands
• Group C: Advisers to Margaret Thatcher arguing FOR war over the Falklands
• Group D: Advisers to Margaret Thatcher arguing
AGAINST war over the Falklands
• You have 15 minutes to prepare a brief presentation/speech/statement on your viewpoint

• Which viewpoint do you agree with?
• Who should be blamed for the conflict?
• Why couldn’t this dispute be settled diplomatically? Were there any alternatives?

• By Monday:
• Read pages 193-203 and take notes on:
– Advantages/Disadvantages for Argentina
– Advantages/Disadvantages for England
– Strategies used (air/sea/land)
– Reasons it was a Limited War
– Ending & Effects
• Tomorrow, we will finish Japanese War Crimes