Invasion 1982

The story of British Falkland Islanders under Argentine occupation—with a new chapter on postwar developments: “Reads like a gripping adventure yarn.” —British Heritage Magazine

Falkland Islanders were the first British people to come under enemy occupation since the Channel Islanders during the Second World War. This book tells how islanders’ warnings were ignored in London, how their slim defenses gave way to a massive invasion, and how they survived occupation.

While some among the small population established a cautiously pragmatic modus vivendi with the occupiers, some islanders opted for active resistance. Others joined advancing British troops, transporting ammunition and leading men to the battlefields. Islanders’ leaders and “troublemakers” faced internal exile, and whole settlements were imprisoned, becoming virtual hostages. A new chapter about Falklands history since 1982 reveals that while the Falklands have benefited greatly from Britain’s ongoing commitment to them, a cold war continues in the south Atlantic. To the annoyance of the Argentines, the islands have prospered—and an oil bonanza promises further riches.

Includes a foreword by Frederick Forsyth