Leopoldo Galtieri and the Falklands War

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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"

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"

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".

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"

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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"

Governor Hunt advises Islanders that Galtieri has rejected Reagan's intervention, and declares a State of Emergency at 3.25am

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

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

The Argentine fleet leaves Puerto Belgrano

The Argentine fleet leaves Puerto Belgrano

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

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

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

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

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

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

Argentina rejects Haig proposals

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

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

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

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

Galtieri rejects Peruvian peace plan, citing General Belgrano

Galtieri rejects Peruvian peace plan, citing General Belgrano. After the loss of the Belgrano, the entire Argentine fleet returns to port and do not leave again for the duration of hostilities

The Junta rejects the Peruvian peace plan for a 2nd time. Argentine junta rejects Peruvian peace plan

Argentina declares the entire South Atlantic a war zone

The Junta concedes that "sovereignty not a precondition". Argentine junta concedes that sovereignty of the Islands isn't a precondition to the United Nations peace plan

The Junta rejects the British proposals. Argentine junta rejects British peace proposals

Organisation of American States condemns Britain's military action and calls on the US to stop helping Britain - only the US, Chile, Colombia and Trinidad & Tobago abstain

Organisation of American States condemns Britain's military action and calls on the US to stop helping Britain - only the US, Chile, Colombia and Trinidad & Tobago abstain

The Battle of Port Stanley ends with the surrender of Argentine forces. General Mario Menendez surrenders to Major General Jeremy Moore at 9pm FI time. By daylight Argentine troops are fleeing in disarray, by mid-morning white flags are flying in Stanley, and by noon the British have marched to the outskirts of Stanley

The Battle of Port Stanley ends with the surrender of Argentine forces

Resigns as President & Army Commander in Chief after failing to retain the Falklands

Argentine war toll set at 645 dead and missing