The 1982 Falklands War resolved a 74-day armed dispute over South Atlantic territories, resulting in 907 total deaths and contributing to Argentina's return to democracy.
Key Facts
- Duration
- 74 days
- Argentine military deaths
- 649 personnel
- British military deaths
- 255 personnel
- Falkland Islander deaths
- 3 civilians
- Conflict start
- 2 April 1982 (Argentine invasion)
- Argentine surrender
- 14 June 1982
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Argentina claimed sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, which Britain had administered as a Crown colony since 1841. The Argentine military government, seeking to assert territorial claims and bolster domestic support, ordered the invasion of the Falkland Islands on 2 April 1982, followed by South Georgia the next day.
Argentina invaded and occupied the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, prompting Britain to dispatch a naval task force. After amphibious landings and intense fighting involving both naval and air engagements, Argentine forces surrendered on 14 June 1982, returning the islands to British control after 74 days of conflict.
The defeat accelerated the collapse of Argentina's military junta and hastened the country's transition to democracy. In Britain, the Conservative government gained political momentum and was re-elected with an increased majority in 1983. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were not restored until 1989, and the sovereignty dispute remains unresolved.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent