Video: Why the Falklands Conflict happened

The Falkland Islands have two names. To the people who live there and to Britain they are the Falkland Islands but to their closest neighbour across the sea Argentina and its people, they are las Islas Malvinas. The debate over what to call the islands is a symbol of a much larger dispute which has raged for hundreds of years and continues to this day. On the Argentinian side a claim based on territorial integrity and a perceived historical injustice. And on the British side, a claim based on historical precedent and the right to self-determination.

In April of 1982, that debate became a conflict. One which would take the lives of nearly 1,000 people. But for Argentina, it was never meant to be that way. In fact, when Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands they believed that Britain wouldn't even respond.

In this first episode of our five-part Falklands series IWM Curator Carl Warner looks at why the Falklands Conflict happened. Why did Argentina believe they could take the Falklands without a fight? What was the invasion like? And why did Britain choose to fight for these islands 8,000 miles from home?

A short history of the Falklands conflict: https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/a-short-history-of-the-falklands-war

Licence the clips used in this film: https://film.iwmcollections.org.uk/c/2184

For information about licensing HD clips please email filmcommercial@iwm.org.uk

From 2 April 2022, Imperial War Museums (IWM) will mark the 40th anniversary of the Falklands Conflict. New exhibits at IWM London and IWM North will include items from IWM’s rich collection that will go on display for the very first time. The story and legacy of the Falklands Conflict will also be explored through a digital programme, including a new episode of IWM’s Conflict of Interest and a series of five short films on the conflict, explaining the extraordinary land, sea and air operation carried out by British forces to retake the islands.

CC Attributions:

Congreso Nacional Buenos Aires by Jacobo Tarrío. CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT DSC by Henry Kellner. CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en

Washington, White House by Arian Zwegers. CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

Government House in Stanley by John5199. CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office's main building in Whitehall by UK Government. OGL 2. https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/2/

Map from Free Vector Maps: http://freevectormaps.com

0:00 Intro 1:15 History of the Falklands 3:24 Argentina's claim to the Falklands 5:03 The Falkland Islanders 7:02 Falklands negotiations 8:59 Why Argentina invaded 12:21 The invasion 15:21 British reaction 16:11 Worldwide reaction 17:34 Conclusion