The Falklands War: A Soldiers Story | NEW FEATURE DOC

On the night of the 2nd April 1982, without warning, Argentina launched the invasion of the Falklands Islands. What followed was Britain’s last solo war: the last major conflict fought over British imperial territories, the last major conflict Britain fought by itself rather than as part of a coalition.
The British response to the Argentinian invasion was almost instant, commandeering luxury liners, trawlers and ferries in addition to numerous naval vessels. Britain put to sea a task force of 28,000 men.
40 years on, we meet veterans from both sides who experienced the conflict first-hand and were witness to some of the most pivotal moments of the war.
Discover the past on History Hit with ad-free exclusive podcasts and documentaries released weekly presented by world renowned historians Dan Snow, Suzannah Lipscomb, Lucy Worsely, Mary Beard and more. Watch, listen and read history wherever you are, whenever you want it. Available on all devices: Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Android TV, Samsung Smart TV, Roku, Xbox, Chromecast, and iOs & Android.
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#historyhit #falklandswar #britisharmy

[@jamesross1799]

One of my earliest memories I was 4 and a half. My grandad followed it closely as he had been a ww2 Royal marines commando and I remember that a few months later we bought him a tape of the band of HM Royal marines. I think it rekindled his unit pride. He was a really lovely bloke my grandad cookman.

[@trainknut]

Do we even want to know why he was called "cookman"?

[@jamesross1799]

@@trainknut his sir name Walter cookman 😆

[@nicedayuk]

I returned to the Falklands for the first time just before the pandemic struck. On the flight over I developed a toothache, damned filling didn't like the trip. I stayed in Liberty Lodge and was welcomed by one of the island officials. He got me an appointment with a dentist at the hospital. I had to fill in NHS forms after the treatment and when the nice lady working on the reception desk saw that I was a returning veteran she came into the waiting room, flung her arms around me, hugged me and said "Thank you for saving me, my children and my grandchildren " . Any doubts I had about what we accomplished evaporated then and there. I'm proud of what was done to keep a couple of thousand Britons British. It's what they wanted.

[@cameronmartin-mitchell4596]

Can confirm this, been out there 6 months and locals, young and old super grateful

[@alangood8190]

Brave men. Thank you for your service. RIP to those who never made it home and those who struggled mentally and physically afterwards.

[@tonisiret5557]

Fantastically produced documentary. Nice to see that someone on the opposing side, also gave their story. RIP to all those who fought, & thank you to our men for their service 🙏

[@HistoryHit]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Rublo01]

Someone from opposing side? Are you kidding? That's just the english side of the history with the most pro english argentinian guy they've found dropping a word or two now and then. I don't say its not interesting but its just the english side of the history.

[@likeitout]

@@Rublo01 someone who is so uneducated in reality as to assume someone is “English” without recognising the nuances of the various nationalities which make up the British (it’s akin to you calling all Spanish people “Castilian”), isn’t best placed to pretend to be erudite on the subject. He is 100% accurate when it comes to the truth. The “Estamos ganando” version of the story from the land that is the home of Vivesa Criolla, is cr@p.

[@KeithWilliamMacHendry]

It's a sad fact that the Scots Guards never received the same recognition as the Paras & the Royal Marines, they did an exceptional job when all things are considered, as did the aforementioned. They certainly made this Scotsman proud as did all the gallant fighting men in the task force.

[@simonh6371]

I thought they were recognised as being the Battalion who bayonet charged and recaptured Mt. Tumbledown? Yes they did an excellent job and the Guards Bns are certainly a cut above line infantry, and Scottish regiments have always had a fearsome reputation, so I'd expect them to be held in high regard.

[@PotatoSalad614]

The Scots Guards are the only regiment that fought in the Falklands War to have a film made about them. Tumbledown (1988) staring Colin Firth is available on KZbin.

[@Calvi36]

Derek Denholm ( Scots Guards) is buried in a graveyard close to my home, he is right next door to a Medal of Honour Recipient called Archibald Houston aka Francis Kelly. Derek Denholm served during the Falklands War and was killed in action in the Battle for Mount Tumbledown on the night of 13-14 June 1982, his cause of death being officially recorded as ‘blast injury, multiple shrapnel wounds’. At the time of his death he was serving with 14 Platoon, Left Flank Company, 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards and he is buried at Sandymount Cemetery, Glasgow, Scotland. I visit him regularly and I am weird as I speak to both dead men in their graves. Rest easy, your job is done.

[@Dibley8899]

I agree. While I take nothing away from them, the hype surrounding the Paras, and especially the Marines, is bewildering, to say the least. One that militarily doesn't impress me is the continuum of great overtures of Marines having to yomp 50 miles across the Falklands within a couple of days to reach their objectives. The Guards and Ghurkas didn't exactly arrive in Uber taxis. Other units were present during the war and gave good order to their own achievements but seemed to be written out of the conflict to centre-stage others. 100's of men who would have normally died of their wounds didn't because of the field medical care they received. Just to name one unit.

[@DD-lc5ts]

I was a Royal Marine on the ground at Ajax Bay San Carlos. I can assure you that whatever is remembered by those that weren’t there, amongst those that were there is the utmost respect for everyone. If anyone gets overlooked it’s the Matlots, they took fire and very heavy casualties.

[@Calvi36]

I have watched many documentaries about the conflict and this has to be one of the best as it is clear, impartial and concise. I know many men of the class of 82 and they all have my respect. The Falklands Conflict was one of the reasons that I joined up, all of my instructors at CTCRM had served down South.

[@HistoryHit]

really glad you enjoyed it @Calvi36

[@Sidney1WG]

Great documentary. It was this war that I had my motivation to join the army. I had the honour of serving with many Falklands veterans. In fact, I was actually trained by Falklands veterans which I can only say benefited all of us. I'm still in touch with them to this day. Great men, fantastic soldiers. RIP to all those that never made it back. You did us proud. And thank you.

[@camrenwick]

I was a serving soldier from 1974 - 1985 in BAOR. I went aboard HMS Sheffield when it was docked in Hamburg, about a year before it was sunk in the Falklands war. My regiment were not deployed to the Falklands war, so I remained in BAOR.

[@user-rk9it9hz6g]

Having watched numerous documentaries about the war you've done really well to put an original twist on this one

[@HistoryHit]

really glad to hear you enjoyed this one!

[@peterpaul7932]

great documentary - i love that you took the view of both sides, with actual interviews of survivors. thank you sir!

[@RedentSC]

a great modern doc of the conflict, thanks again history hit!

[@blockboygames5956]

A superb documentary. Thank you for another great piece of content.

[@mk.5706]

Being 8 years old at the time i don´t really remember if the people here in germany did care or not, but what i do remember is the opinion of my parents, which where heavily anglophile from literature to furniture, visiting friends in the UK pretty often. Our family had a weekly ritual to visit an argentine steakhouse and that ritual ended the day Argentina invaded the Falklands. It took my parents a year or someething to go back there and when they had to it was an invitation they could not refuse. My dad protested, my mum said they had to, she won the argument (as usual) so he decided to wear a tie clip with a little poppy and even engraved a little 255 on it himself to remember the fallen british soldiers. Nobody realised i guess, but that´s exactly who he was.

[@BlueButtonFly]

He's from a generation who believed the governments of countries represented the people of those countries, which isn't true, and probably never really has been. Thankfully by Iraq and Afghanistan we could at least reflect on the hatred we threw at people ethnically linked to countries our governments had taken military action against, despite still doing it. The irony of an anglophile German boycotting an Argentinian restaurant because an Argentinian Junta invaded British territory is pretty palpable though.

[@Ag-qr6ii]

Your old man deserves a beer. Respect from 🇬🇧

[@notmenotme614]

A friend of mine who was old enough to remember 1982, told me at the time people even boycotted cans of corned beef in supermarkets, only because they thought Argentina was a major supplier of canned beef. Interestingly, I once met an Argentinian while I was on vacation in Berlin. We got talking, we got on well and after too many beers I said “sorry about what happened in the Falkland Islands”, he shrugged and replied “you can keep them, there’s nothing there”. I got the impression the average person wasn’t interested and it was all political.

[@Andy-ScotsIrish-TheGAEL.]

I mean the germans and English come from the same stock. So not laughable Where do you think the english originally came from? Anglo, saxon jutes and so on?​@@BlueButtonFly

[@pleidiolwyfimwlad2104]

@@notmenotme614the best corned beef comes from argentina

[@dennis12dec]

Major General Julian Thompson said in an interview that the Argentine Marines who first landed on the Falklands were subsequently returned to Argentina for a possible war against Chile that's why most Argentinian troops garrisoned on the islands were conscripts the only elite unit is the 5th Marine Battalion at Mount Tumbledown later captured by the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards.

[@nacho.4583]

The men of the Marine Battalions (the 5th at Mount Tumbledown and the 2nd which landed on 2 April) were also conscripts (except officers and NCOs), but were better equipped and trained than the army soldiers.

[@DeaconBlu]

Omg! What an incredible episode! Thank You! So much. Fantastic info here.

[@DD-lc5ts]

Such a long time ago now, but I still have memories clear as yesterday.

[@jamesross1799]

@@DD-lc5ts me too.

[@johntait491]

An excellent, informative and accurate summary of events. Well done. A first class production. 👍

[@HistoryHit]

Thanks for watching, glad you enjoyed it!

[@mikenorton3294]

Very good episode. Certainly one of the best on the falklands I have seen.

[@kitkatfisher7018]

Did a tour about 94 based at Mount Pleasant. Port Stanley had a lovely Pub/Cafe we went to when we could get transport but you had to take sleeping bags for the return trip. Loved the people there.

[@54mgtf22]

Thank you HH. Always interesting.

[@ProfessorM-he9rl]

Amazing post, thank you

[@Ag-qr6ii]

The fact that the Argentinians genuinely thought it was a good idea to start a war with Britain will always confuse me

[@Progametloler]

I mean look at the distance between the Falklands and Britain. Also Britain's international standing was on the decline. I'd say the UK was the underdog

[@dovetonsturdee7033]

I suspect the assumption was that the British would complain, but nothing more. Lord Carrington's comments had already seemed rather equivocal about the future of the Falklands, whilst the vile John Nott was actively trying to destroy what was left of the Royal Navy at the time. A process which, of course, continues unabated to this day.

[@gdutfulkbhh7537]

I imagine the thinking was one that we often see in dictatorships: generate an 'external' conflict to distract from economic problems at home.

[@joeyjojojrshabadoo7462]

Cold war Argentina had a lot of leveraging with Regan.

[@HungarianRepublic]

@@gdutfulkbhh7537you live in a dictatorship though, a leftist dictatorship.

[@lucianoconte5328]

Such a great video.....thanks

[@tramapolean]

Very interesting, thank you!

[@keimahane]

Very well done. I had really never looked into the Falklands War as a whole. As a Sailor who joined the US Navy in 1982, I was made aware of some of the issues with the attacks on the British Ships, the effectiveness of the Exocet, which lead the US Navy to implemented many changes to our Battle Gear based on the burns received by the brave British Sailors and Damage Control changes as well. Thank you for this, I learned so much and can honestly say I am a bit ashamed that I had not looked into this conflict before now.

[@chiselcheswick5673]

The whole operation was just an amazing military feat. A real reason to be proud of all those that took part to liberate the islands.

[@janwilson9485]

If Thatcher had been clear that the Falklands would not be handed over and had not cancelled the last British supply ship (she would have been aware of the signal that would have sent to Argentina) this probably wouldnt have happened. People died for political reasons by 2 governments trying to retain their grip on power - very sad - no one should have had to die for that! And no one should have felt able to invade an undefended British Island.

[@Matty95rufc]

Fantastic documentary

[@HistoryHit]

Glad you think so!

[@brianford8493]

Brilliant just brilliant ta!✌️ The lads had prevailed before even setting foot ashore.✌️

[@jasonbeale6875]

Amazing and emotional documentary. I followed these events with great interest as a 12 year old. Got to experience a much more peaceful naval life many years later. Great respect to the warriors of both sides

[@stuartstevens2069]

I may be wrong but didn’t Great Britain claim the Falkland island before Argentina was actually a country….if so that kind of end that conversation on sovereignty…..

[@DaDaW9762]

Right or wrong, the fact is, the people who actually live there, were born there and will die there speak English and consider themselves Britain.. If no one lived there or 90% of them spoke Spanish I'd say to give them it.. But that's not the case, so Argentina is gonna have to shut up and put up.. Most of the men that fought there admit they were lied to, they were taught that the islands had a Spanish speaking population! They really believed that they were gonna be greeted by cheering Spanish crowds happy to see the back of the union jack, under the junta they'd been taught this.. But most of them saw that the people looked British, spoke English and weren't happy to see them and suddenly changed their minds about the place.. its only when they're in groups they start shouting nonsense again.

[@nails3394]

Off the top of my head, the first were the dutch, Argentina took it off them, Brits took it of Argentine, been in Brit hands a long time.

[@BH-rx3ue]

@@nails3394 the time line is france established a colony on the east part (1764), few months later Britain made one on the west part, spain then took over frances part (1766) then britain and spain realised eachother were there, rattled some sabres but came to an agreement (1771). Then the British temporarily left (1774) but still held claim. spain bugger off but still hold claim (1806), the place is kind of just filled with fishmen and sealers. Argies claim independence from spain (1816) some argie rocks up and claims theyre theirs (1820) some murdering and mutiny and shit happens between the argies while Britain is off doing other things. Britain returns and takes up its claim again (1833) and then the argies have been on-off crying about it ever since and were at one point trying to use it as a bargaining chip So long story short, the argies tried to claim it was theirs because they were spanish before their independence and they thought it made spainish things theirs but in reality it didnt and it's pretty much always been british

[@nails3394]

Thankyou.

[@alundavies1016]

But the Pope said… and gauchos lived… and the French… they had a vote to stay British, we had a war over it, the British won… the last two trump all the historical arguments anyway.

[@chrisforsyth8323]

Thank you.

[@davidsullivan7743]

A friend of mine who served in The Falklands with 2 Para was very scathing of the bombing of the runway in Stanley. He insisted that although it was hit by a bomb, the RAF did not put it out of action, and the Argentines were able to carry on using it.

[@TomFynn]

The used it for Pucaras but never for high speed jets like Mirages.

[@nacho.4583]

That's right, the runway was operational until the end of the war.

[@LeriusDoman]

HH I dont know what is up with youtube, or if it is a choice from your end. But 7 comercials in 16min is a lot :( Great content as always tho!

[@BlondeDudeGaming]

It will be KZbin

[@davidsullivan7743]

KZbin are annoying viewers deliberately with the amount of ads to try to make people sign up for the pay to view ad free service. Netflix will be the next to do the same

[@Cous1nJack]

Ho hum pay for premium.

[@gdutfulkbhh7537]

I got no ads at all... but then I've got an adblocker installed. (If KZbin showed me ads, I wouldn't visit the site.)

[@stephenhumphrey7935]

​@Cous1nJack If I were a billionaire, I wouldn't give KZbin a penny.

[@newellgirl]

Love the drone footage of the battle sites..would love to see more of that and more wartime artifacts that remain aka plane wrecks..trenches..etc...Nothing but deep admiration and respect for all of the UK/Gurkha soldiers involved in the Falklands War..one of the greatest British military exploits....long may the Falklands remain under British rule as is the will of the Falkland Islanders!

[@Osman-mj5rf]

I have had the pleasure of meeting few lads who were in this war also watched the TV I was in borstal when it broke out.

[@gregpower308]

A great documentary. Dan’s voice sounds funny though.

[@kofManKan]

No mention of Atlantic Conveyor. Interesting omission.

[@12G_Pyro]

I worked with the gent who captured the footage of the exocet missile striking the HMS Sheffield. He said it was by pure fluke that he captured it as he was on route to a destination and had the camera out as he spotted the HMS sheffield. Right place right time to capture the footage I guess.

[@katherinecollins4685]

Well presented

[@006mh]

Did I miss something or was there no representative from 1 half of the task force interviewed ie the Royal Marines?

[@kennethrobinson1294]

I noticed that as well. The largest part of the actual British land forces and not a single mention!

[@hkb5134]

​@kennethrobinson1294 while that is true I think there are lots of other docs that cover the marine experience, I think hearing from others we might not necessarily have heard before is commendable

[@steverichards7311]

Only one mention of 3 Para even though Longdon was the bloodiest battle

[@006mh]

@@steverichards7311 Well instead they focused on 2 Para; amazing what those guys did, but did their sacrifices at Goose Green need to happen to secure victory in the Falklands? And H Jones; once again, so brave, but did his actions potentially jeopardize the whole attack and with it the lives of his men!

[@dasboot7538]

My (late) old man was on the Norland (engineer). Total respect to 2 Para.

[@AsteroidM749A]

42:13 - sounds scarily familiar...............

[@jurgen7579]

What I always wondered was, that so many Brit Soldiers engaged in this conflict commited suicide in the years after. So far I know some BNs had more suicides after the War, then KIAs during the War. L served in the Rhodesian Security Forces between 76-80, last rank C/SGT and up to the Falkland War I never heard of or expierenced PTSD (not in Rhodesia and not in the German Army)

[@bigblue6917]

My uncle was one of the crew on the Norland. As he had served in the merchant navy during WW2, including artic convoys to Russia, this was nothing new to him.

[@allandavis8201]

I had just finished my basic training when the war started, I say war because that is what it was, not a conflict as the media and politicians have said many times over the duration of the war and in the years that have come and gone, I don’t think I was lucky to not be sent down south, I was only just 18 years old and to inexperienced, I would have been a hindrance to the rest of the forces that did go down south, but in a strange way I would have eagerly gone, and then I would have woken up to the fact that there is no glamour or anything good in combat and I would have realised that very very quickly, but tbh until the media reports started coming through, especially once the boots were on the ground and getting into battle, those media reports and what we were told by our superiors soon replaced the willingness to go with a “I’m glad I wasn’t sent” feeling, the tv 📺 images will remain with me forever. I lost a good friend shortly after the war was officially over and that loss did affect me deeply, and when I was sent down south many years later I wasn’t able to visit the memorial to him and a number of other people killed in the same incident, not because I didn’t want to, but because I just didn’t have enough “downtime” to get there and back before I was back on duty, and now that I have the time to go my body is not capable of the journey from the United Kingdom to the Falkland Islands 🇫🇰 let alone the expedition to the crash site. Sorry for such a long winded comment, unfortunately I get carried away when my medication kicks in, but I just wanted to tell my “sandbag story” (almost a sandbag story) and possibly give other viewers a bit more detail on how I, and probably many others, felt when the task force was being assembled and when they got into combat, and again I’m sorry for the length of my comment and my apologies. I would like to finish by saying that the Falkland 🇫🇰 islanders made their feelings towards the Argentinian government wanting to claim the islands for themselves quite clear, they wanted to remain British and come under the protective umbrella that would, and still is, there for them. To that end I think we all should remember the sacrifices that were made by the British 🇬🇧 Armed Forces. R.I.P all those who lost their lives and those who were injured. Lest We Forget, Per Ardua Ad Astra, and I salute you all. 😔🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇫🇰👍

[@jamesdoyle5405]

Don't know if it is true but in the US Navy we were told that it was the aluminium superstructure so vulnerable as Excoset was a comparatively small warhead about 30 kilos.

[@JeffWusch]

Exoset missle was a great weapon in it's time.

[@arbocino135]

J'aime bien les Paras à 20:16.

[@mstevens113]

No mention of the SAS Pebble Island raid? How?

[@Ardass486]

Secret

[@gbarkie969]

​@@Ardass486it's on another great documentary 😂

[@koitorob]

RAID? You mean when they went out sightseeing and got a little carried away? 🤣🤣🤣

[@user-ow4po3hn2d]

No mention of Longdon then

[@nickmiller21]

D company 2 para fought multiple engagements were well led by Major Neame Goose Green was a miracle

[@parkeydavid]

Thank you for this great documentary. I was 10 in Texas when this was took place and we forget that it was a real war and men died.

[@markrunnalls7215]

Belgrano was a yank ww2 ship .. And to say it was a floating rust bucket is an understatement.. When the ship was hit ,the torpedos launched blew the bottom out.. My late father worked on those torpedos back then..

[@dovetonsturdee7033]

Perhaps, but it was armed with fifteen six inch guns, and eight five inch guns.

[@josephturner7569]

USS Phoenix.

[@Mag_Aoidh]

Born in the 60s, I guess that was the first time I ever remember seeing Margaret Thatcher in her role.

[@yolkiandeji7649]

32:30 Does that guy have a Sten gun?

[@lukemcgahern2357]

No it’s a sterling

[@ianbusby2845]

Did I miss the bit about invasion of South Georgia?

[@Carsonktm420]

Should of started in the 1600’s this story

[@mstevens113]

What's special about that door that needs blurred? Is it a secret weapon or something?

[@martynm.449]

There's a trophy cabinet behind it. And it's full of ears👂

[@Zio_Muschio]

I didn’t get a quote to mrs Thatcher. As Italians, we were allied and firmly friend to UK. Many Italians still had in the eighties some far relatives in Argentina, emigrated over there 60 years before. Whatever were everybody’s partiality, in Italy I can clearly remember we perceived and admired the supreme leading skill of the british prime minister.

[@nacho.4583]

Molti italiani erano arrivati in Argentina anche dopo la 2° Guerra Mondiale, quindi poco più di 30 anni prima del '82. Per cui non erano "lontani parenti" di quelli rimasti in Italia, dato che mio nonno aveva ancora qui a sua madre, sorella e altri parenti. E come lui molti altri.

[@Neptune_zx]

7:42 as an Argentinian I've never felt so many mixed emotions watching a video in my life.

[@adrianh332]

Great documentary but needs more adverts.

[@koitorob]

Get Adblocker for your browser and stop with ya moaning 😁

[@user-qk4qy3tu5l]

At last an honest view of the battle?

[@Derschleifer]

Didnt they have amramm or cwis in that time?

[@chiselcheswick5673]

Nope.

[@its_cyfa]

Rip boys

[@Smallholdingonashoestring]

I was fortunate enough to visit the Falklands for 4 months in 2003/4 it's a beautiful place and the locals where some of the nicest people i ever met. I hope the new labour government in the UK doesn't sell them out. David Lammy as foreign secretary doesn't fill me with confidence.

[@larrywinning5183]

Tactico Buzio were NOT Conscripts.

[@MrLorenzovanmatterho]

Never again should there be any conflict between Britain and the Argentines. But now Argentina is a democracy I doubt there ever will be. You have to feel sorry for the poor Argies, sacrificed by a despicable dictatorship in a desperate attempt to preserve their tyranny.

[@steverichards7311]

Only one small mention of 3 Para existence even though we fought the bloodiest battle and half the photos used in this documentary are of 3 Para!! Sorry to the people who think this is a wonderful documentary. 1 hour 21 minutes and they only managed to cover 2 Para and the Scots Guards. Completely missing out 3 Para (but using all of our photos to promote 2Para) and the Royal Marines!! It seems to me they got hold of Phil Neame and a Scott’s Guardsman and based the documentary around those two…

[@jackstevens7806]

they tried n they failed. the falklands will always be british 🇬🇧

[@nickdarr7328]

Every time I see anything on the British army post WW2 I get so pissed off. Not at the soldiers but how overtly political any military situation was. Like not supporting Israel. You have Jewish families buying up scrub land since the mid to late 1800s. Not stolen or seized. Legitimately purchased from people who thought the land was worthless. The same thing happened in Kenya, Somaliland, and Rhodesia. Brave men who turned worthless land into farms and ranches. Then built irrigation ditches and roads. Raised telegraph, telephone and power lines. Built police stations, hospitals, schools and industry. If I buy a shack and turn it into a mansion over 50 years no one would allow the guy I bought it from to take it back. But they cared about South Africa, and the Suez because those had diamonds and controlled trade respectively. Britain doesn't give a crap about the individual citizen. They only fought in the Falklands because Margaret Thatcher wanted to show how tough she was. But if you're a farmer in Kenya or business owner in Rhodesia you were sacrificed in the name of looking good at that moment on the world stage

[@likeitout]

It’s called self determination.

[@waltbarratt200]

The British government new about the oil in the area that’s why they put so much effort into keeping it

[@tonyroberts9932]

Bit annoying that it seemed that the whole air war was won by the RAF. When in fact they played a small role in the Falklands, the majority of aircraft shot down were by Navy Harriers. Operation Blackbuck tho impressive operationally wise was in fact a failure, yes they hit the runway , but it didnt close the airport at all, it was up and running in 24 hours. The best book about the air war is by Sharky Ward who recently passed away. his account tells a very different story, no holds barred and highly recommended. Why were no Navy pilots involved in this docu?

[@koitorob]

Blackbuck made the Argies keep the Mirages away which we were VERY worried about. It also showed Argentina that we could also reach the mainland...

[@TyroneMooselips]

Absolutely amazing. The only thing I wouldn’t mention to Falkland veterans is “The Hand Of God” A British soldier walked into the bar, England vs Argentina was on TV, Maradona popped up & the British solider fell to the floor screaming & shaking uncontrollably… Scary stuff. I was gonna buy him a drink, thank god I didn’t it would’ve been a waste.

[@RamblesBrambles]

Great story, really really great.

[@TyroneMooselips]

⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠@@RamblesBramblesThanks, not as great as Maradona tho🙏

[@nemo6686]

The Falklands was in many ways a war for two countries _and_ some islands in the South Atlantic.

[@felixcat9318]

Conscripted Argentinian military personnel were heavily armed and on UK territory, and they had dug in to defend its occupation with military force. Unless they voluntarily surrendered to British Forces, Argentinian troops could expect to be met with lethal force. The Argentinians had established the degree of force that it would take to defeat them, and the British provided that force with considerable determination. Argentinian losses were immaterial, better that the invaders take casualties than the British troops. The Argentinian military inflicted considerable losses on the UK forces, which strengthened British determination to defeat its enemy. The high numbers of conscript losses are the responsibility of the generals that sent them.

[@arualblues_zero]

Bold of you to call it UK territory 🤣

[@felixcat9318]

@@arualblues_zero It was, is and remains UK territory! If you believe otherwise please post your evidence.

[@saltzkruber732]

They still lost despite their numbers and being heavily armed

[@akooma3694]

@@arualblues_zero It literally is UK territory though lmao

[@DD-lc5ts]

The bulk of armies in war tend to be conscripts.

[@thedahkterizzin8831]

Britain everywhere they've invaded. "This land is ours because we took it."

[@koitorob]

Retype your comment and replace 'Britain' with 'Everyone'. . .

[@graveperil2169]

It was conscripts that won WW2

[@PotatoSalad614]

Still inferior troops

[@trevdestroyer8209]

It was conscripts against conscripts, so some conscripts had to win eventually

[@nigelgibbens9864]

The soldiers deserved better support the uk really let down the the soldiers who got injured there shame on you British government as always shame on you

[@simoncampbell3144]

Ah , the globe , every tin of beer and every football scarf from Britain in there

[@danielmoran9902]

Steven Large, Submarine Service!

[@Turtytreeandaturd]

"Fight by itself"but eventually helped by the US with materials and logistics

[@PotatoSalad614]

America taking all the credit as usual

[@Turtytreeandaturd]

@@PotatoSalad614 Nope I'm British

[@granitesevan6243]

Are the quotation marks somehow intended to minimalise the achievements of the men and women who actually waged the campaign? Seems a rather cynical and ignorant position to take, if that's what you're doing

[@Turtytreeandaturd]

@@granitesevan6243 quote marks are what was said in the video. That's what quotes are for. At no point was I trying to minimise these brave folk.

[@granitesevan6243]

@@Turtytreeandaturd Okay, I appreciate the civil reply. Just for the record (as I'm sure you know) Argentina was also receiving help in the form of Soviet surveillance of the task force and other intelligence, not to mention the supply of weapons from overseas (including the UK, ironically)

[@anthonymcnamee6297]

Welsh troops ✊

[@jamesnapier3802]

They used A-4s, not F-4s.

[@kralikkral5560]

As I was (age 17) in Northern Ireland a year before, for one month, in a catholic family, I did not have any positive opinion of Thatcher at that time. I even brought an original IRA poster "Thatcher wanted - dead or alive" with me back to Germany, which did bring me in quite massive troubles in school. But anyway I did hope and was quite sure that Britain will win this war - sooner or later. To my these Argentine junta generals looked like total idiots, not understanding the basics of British thinking and acting. As German interested a lot in history I knew that Brits will surely go into full war for these islands - not so much for the islands or for the people, but for the princip. The British Navy was extremely lucky that Argentine Airforce did not sink half of their ships directly in the beginning and that the Argentine army officers were so badly trained. I knew one thing for sure: Argentine soldiers - probably good in dancing and romancing. British soldiers - probably one of the best trained soldiers in the world, together with French Legion and Israeli special units.

[@johnvaleanbaily246]

Britain's Last War ! Those Brits who died in Afghanistan and Iraq (and their families) would probably disagree. An ill thought out and ridiculous title. The BBC reporting and giving away critical details was criminal.

[@richardhoare9963]

@johnvaleanbaily246 whilst appreciating your comment the title of Britain's Last War is accurate in this context. It is stated within the documentary that British defence policy was based on it only entering any future conflict as part of a coalition. The Royal Navy had lost the ability to carry aircraft such as the Buccaneer or Phantom. This meant carriers had gone from a strike or air superiority role to one of fleet defence. Similarly other logistics and support craft were being withdrawn from service. There is an argument that if the Argentine government had waited 12-18 months the UK would have been unable to mount an effective response. With regard to the BBC it must be remembered that all of their reporting was using military channels and subject to censorship. I believe there was a certain naivety in the media reports. Different branches of the armed forces and government wanted to show their worth, politicians wanted to show their genius and the PBI paid the price. Lessons were undoubtedly learned but at what price?

[@steverichards7311]

Conventional War

[@mickroyton6447]

All wars are very tragic i have won a war B4 as a merchant navy Captain now it's time to trust me with a raptor

[@dylanmilne6683]

2:40 so there aren't any important oil fields near the Falklands and the Falklands play no role in the British Antarctic claim???

[@kralikkral5560]

Strange that Brits did not know their own geography in this time. It shows that people in high specialized jobs have basic lacks in other fields.

[@antmod1]

Very watered-down documentary. Luckily, it led me to a very good documentary made in the 80s

[@mandyfox9376]

Only Fools and Horses to Hull and back its the Norland

[@leandrocolombo6012]

Give our islands back pirates

[@PotatoSalad614]

Our islands actually🇬🇧

[@koitorob]

"Give the islands to us" would be an acceptable plea. "Give our islands BACK" is not because that suggests they were yours beforehand. Argentina has never owned them. Britain had claimed them before Argentina was even called Argentina!

[@TheRafaelRamos]

Argentinians invading this comment section in 3... 2... 1...

[@jamesross1799]

Who's calling out the fleet you or me? 😂

[@stefanodadamo6809]

And being soundly trounced by Britishers and non-Britishers as well.

[@christianhaupt2637]

@@stefanodadamo6809Indeed. As an American I will always staunchly support Britain’s Sovereignty over the Falklands.

[@stefanodadamo6809]

@@christianhaupt2637 ditto as an Italian. Hate for the Junta trumps even that for Thatcher.

[@EzequielRuizdiaz-uu8ot]

Yours europeans poor fuera de américa del sur

[@apacherider7110]

The Empire Strikes Back...

[@TCK71]

Absolutely fabulous documentary, makes you proud to be British……… but WTF happened to Great Britain since then. Shameful.

[@alexanderhowarth6460]

Globalisation happened

[@user-bg5xu9ht1q]

Kinda weird to be so proud of being the colonizing military force so recently

[@iberiksoderblom]

Sinking the Belgrano was not a problem. It was a warship at sea. They asked for it to happen and could have stayed at home. Otherwise it would have been used.

[@koitorob]

Them... BUT IT WAS SAILING AWAY FROM THE ISLANDS! 😭 Us... BOLLOCKS! 😎

[@allandavis8201]

Comment number 2, in hindsight I believe that the only reason that the diplomatic negotiations were cancelled by the Argentine regime was because they needed to placate the people of Argentina 🇦🇷 because of their very unstable political situation and to give the people a different situation to focus upon, and obviously that failed, and I think that the Argentine regime didn’t expect that the British 🇬🇧 government would have the resolve to take the islands back by force of arms, and they did not think that we had the capability to fight at the end of an 8000 mile supply chain, and definitely not as quickly as we did, that denied them the opportunity to get firmly established and dug in, they gambled and lost. At the time of Alexander Haigh doing his diplomatic efforts I thought that it would not resolve anything, and I was proven right, and I thought that once that was done and dusted the United States 🇺🇸 government would apply pressure via sanctions and the announcement that they would intervene militarily, how wrong could I be, despite the so called “Special Relationship” the American Administration just about wiped their hands of the situation, basically they did not want to be involved, and in my opinion they were just trying to make sure that they would, whatever the result of the war, come out smelling of roses, and I’m sorry to say that whenever there is nothing that would affect them directly they just shut up shop and turn their back on whatever the situation was. Putting America First is exactly how they work, not that other countries do anything differently but in this case they let us down badly.

[@jeanlavoie5598]

I have always wondered why the anti-aircraft systems were so deficient and ineffective.

[@dennisedwards8954]

Terrible, very terrible audio. The audio sounds like it used technology from the 1970s. The voices are more background to the music dubbed in. It's as if I were trying to listen to it with my hands cupped over my ears. Very unfortunate because I am quite interested in this presentation.

[@zerofox7347]

H982FLK 😳

[@N.S.K722]

One of the last times the british army were top notch compared to now. PLEASE DON'T TAKE THIS THE WRONG WAY ,are soilders, sailors, an airmen today are still some of the best in the world but thanks to so called leaders the number of military personnel these days apart from putting up a good fight there are not enough personnel in my eyes this is a real sad and dangerous place to be in history for England 😢

[@PotatoSalad614]

Yeah but the equipment is so much better now.

[@MrSummerblade]

For most of its history, England has had a small military, even when it became Britain (which you seem to not know about 😂). We’re lucky, we’re an island and don’t need the huge, conscripted slave-soldier armies of the continent and elsewhere. We are small but usually very good at what we do. That’s preferable for a free people on a defensible island

[@N.S.K722]

@MrSummerblade yes your right but we always had the English Channel which saved us a few times as someone said the weapons are better now but we've given half of them away over the last 2 years, an the channel won't save us these days as was said weapons have improved so much that the channel is a drop in the ocean we,ve not had this smaller army since the 1700's we've had to dock 4 ships due to crew shortages after a recent inspection by northrup u.k they found our air defense systems were negligent at best an if Trump gets in good bye special friendship so he said but that's a different thing

[@nickhorten97]

Yeah! Like the carriers.​@@PotatoSalad614

[@MC14may]

The military has shrunk but not the fight