Leopoldo Galtieri Biography and Timeline

Commander in Chief

Appointed Commander in Chief

Invasion of South Georgia

An unauthorised landing on South Georgia by Argentine scrap-metal merchant Constantino Davidoff

Role range: 1982-1982 – 1981-1982

President of Argentina

Appointed President of Argentina

Role range: 1981-1982

President of Argentina

Appointed President of Argentina

Diplomatic Mission

The British Ambassador of Argentina lodges a formal protest against the unauthorised landing on South Georgia on 20 December 1981 by Argentine scrap-metal merchant Constantino Davidoff

Role range: 1982-1982 – 1981-1982

Invasion of South Georgia

The British Ambassador of Argentina lodges a formal protest against the unauthorised landing on South Georgia on 20 December 1981 by Argentine scrap-metal merchant Constantino Davidoff

Role range: 1982-1982 – 1981-1982

Invasion of Falklands

The Argentine Joint Armed Forces committee beings planning military invasion of Islands

Role range: 1982-1982 – 1981-1982

Invasion of Falklands

The Juntas plans to capture Islands are revealed in a series of articles in La Prensa newspaper

Role range: 1982-1982 – 1981-1982

Britain renews its formal protest at Davidoff's unauthorised landing in South Georgia

Britain renews its formal protest at Davidoff's unauthorised landing in South Georgia

Role range: 1982-1982 – 1981-1982

Invasion of South Georgia

Britain renews its formal protest at Davidoff's unauthorised landing in South Georgia

Role range: 1982-1982 – 1981-1982

Argentine Foreign Minister says that Argentina reserves the right to employ

The Argentine Foreign Minister says that Argentina reserves the right to employ other means if Britain keeps refusing to cede sovereignty

Role range: 1982-1982 – 1981-1982

Invasion of Falklands

Hercules aircraft operated by Argentine military airline LADE,on a mail run to an Antarctic base, lands at Stanley Airport, falsely claiming a fuel leak, and carrying senior Argentine officers who survey Stanley

Role range: 1982-1982 – 1981-1982

Invasion of South Georgia

Davidoff sends 40 workmen on naval vessel Bahia Buen Suceso to dismantle Leith whaling station, the workmen fail to ask permission to land from the British Antarctic Survey base at Grytviken and hoist the Argentine flag

Role range: 1982-1982 – 1981-1982

Invasion of Falklands

Violent anti-Government riots occur across Argentina. The Junta takes final decision to invade the Islands on 2 April

Role range: 1982-1982 – 1981-1982

Reagan warns Argentine junta leader General Galtieri not to take military action

Reagan warns Argentine junta leader General Galtieri not to take military action

Role range: 1982-1982 – 1981-1982

Capture of Falklands

Galtieri hails the "recovery" of the Malvinas, saying Argentina had been left no option other than military action, while Carrington tells Parliament "Port Stanley is now occupied by Argentine military forces"

Role range: 1982-1982 – 1981-1982

Invasion of Falklands

Argentina puts Operation Rosario into action by bringing ships into position off the Falkland Islands

Role range: 1982-1982 – 1981-1982

Invasion of Falklands

Argentine special forces land at Mullet Creek at 4.30am, more troops land at York Bay at 5.30am, and by 6am are engaged in battle with the Royal Marines - 3 Argentines are killed.

Role range: 1982-1982 – 1981-1982

Invasion of Falklands

Brigadier General Mario Menendez is appointed Governor of Islas Malvinas and Dependencies.

Role range: 1982-1982 – 1981-1982

Invasion of Falklands

Galtieri hails the "recovery" of the Malvinas, saying Argentina had been left no option other than military action, while Carrington tells Parliament "Port Stanley is now occupied by Argentine military forces". Forces the garrison of 18 Royal Marines to surrender.

Role range: 1982-1982 – 1981-1982

Invasion of Falklands

Governor Hunt orders the surrender at 9.15am - by now the whole town other than Government House is under Argentine control.

Role range: 1982-1982 – 1981-1982

Rosario

Argentina puts Operation Rosario into action by bringing ships into position off the Falkland Islands

Role range: 1982-1982 – 1981-1982

Rule of Falkland Islands

Galtieri hails the "recovery" of the Malvinas, saying Argentina had been left no option other than military action, while Carrington tells Parliament "Port Stanley is now occupied by Argentine military forces"

Role range: 1982-1982 – 1981-1982

Invasion of Falklands

UN Security Council passes Resolution 502 by 10 votes to 1 (with 4 abstentions) demanding immediate Argentine withdrawal from the Islands - Argentina refuses to comply

Role range: 1982-1982 – 1981-1982

UN Security Council

UN Security Council passes Resolution 502 by 10 votes to 1 (with 4 abstentions) demanding immediate Argentine withdrawal from the Islands - Argentina refuses to comply

Role range: 1982-1982 – 1981-1982

UN Security Council

UN Security Council passes Resolution 502 by 10 votes to 1 (with 4 abstentions) demanding immediate Argentine withdrawal from the Islands - Argentina refuses to comply

Role range: 1981-1982

United Nations

UN Security Council passes Resolution 502 by 10 votes to 1 (with 4 abstentions) demanding immediate Argentine withdrawal from the Islands - Argentina refuses to comply

Role range: 1981-1982

Invasion of Falklands

The Argentine fleet leaves Puerto Belgrano

Role range: 1982-1982 – 1981-1982

Mobilization

The Argentine fleet leaves Puerto Belgrano

Role range: 1982-1982 – 1981-1982

Agreement on Transfer sovereignty by 31 December 1982 and

Argentina rejects Haigs plan unless Britain agrees to transfer sovereignty by 31 December 1982 and allow Argentine nationals to settle in the Islands. Argentina rejects Haigs 5 point peace plan & London is informed

Role range: 1982-1982 – 1981-1982

Rule of Falkland Islands

Argentina rejects Haigs plan unless Britain agrees to transfer sovereignty by 31 December 1982 and allow Argentine nationals to settle in the Islands

Role range: 1982-1982 – 1981-1982

Invasion of Falklands

Britain warns Argentina that any military or civilian ship or aircraft representing a threat to the task force will be destroyed

Role range: 1982-1982 – 1981-1982

Invasion of Falklands

Organisation of American States supports Argentina's sovereignty claim but calls for peaceful negotiations

Role range: 1982-1982 – 1981-1982

Organisation of American States

Organisation of American States supports Argentina's sovereignty claim but calls for peaceful negotiations

Role range: 1982-1982 – 1981-1982

Rule of Falkland Islands

Organisation of American States supports Argentina's sovereignty claim but calls for peaceful negotiations

Role range: 1982-1982 – 1981-1982

Diplomatic Proposal

Argentina rejects Haig proposals

Role range: 1982-1982 – 1981-1982

Diplomatic Proposal

Peruvian President Belaunde Terry presents a peace proposal to Galtieri who gives preliminary acceptance with some modifications

Role range: 1982-1982 – 1981-1982

Sinking of ARA General Belgrano - HMS Conqueror Attack

HMS Conqueror fired three torpedoes at General Belgrano on 2 May 1982; two struck and the cruiser was abandoned as she sank.

Role range: 1982-1982 – 1981-1982

Sinking of ARA General Belgrano

The General Belgrano is sunk outside the Exclusion Zone demarcated by the British. Over 700 men are rescued from the open ocean despite cold seas and stormy weather, the 368 losses from the Belgrano total just over half of Argentine deaths in the Falklands conflict

Role range: 1982-1982 – 1981-1982

Diplomatic Plan

Rejects the Peruvian peace plan, cites the sinking of the Belgrano. Galtieri rejects Peruvian peace plan, citing General Belgrano

Role range: 1982-1982 – 1981-1982