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Summary: A comprehensive account of a largely forgotten war
Review: "The Battle for the Falklands" is a good overall narrative of the history of the brief war between Britain and Argentina over the disputed islands. It delves into the politics that led to the war, the U.S. attempt at mediation between its two allies and, of course, the actual fighting. The whole affair seems a bit surreal as it also must have to the British soldiers who fought there. The Falklands themselves, as remote and windswept as it is possible for any inhabited location on Earth to be, were hardly worth all the trouble. But for both Britain and Argentina, national pride and honor were at stake. The irony is that by invading the islands, Argentina's military leadership made it less likely that the country will ever gain possession of them. This book is a good tribute to the men who fought what will probably be the last colonial war, and it is well written historical account.
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Summary: The definitive history of the campaign...
Review: Even though this book was written shortly after the conclusion of the Falklands War in 1982, it remains the definitive history of the campaign. The book follows two parallel tracks, one covering the diplomatic and political aspects of the war, and the second involved with the military campaign itself. If you want to learn more about the who, how, when, where, and why of the Falkland Islands War, this is the book that you need to read. Highly recommended for interested persons and military history buffs!
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Summary: Good Historical Overview
Review: I do not remember much about this event from when it took place so reading this book provided me a good overall account of the war. I would have liked a more in-depth US political view, but that was not focus of the book. The book does offer some good coverage of British politics, which is interesting to an American. There is also a very good review of the events that lead up to why the British were down there in the first place. I would have liked a more balanced view of the Argentina military effort. With the position that the UK has taken over the last 50 years with its colonial possessions, I would have thought that Argentina would have had more patience with the political effort. The book did give a good picture of the military action that took place, the tactics and weapon systems. It is a good book and worth reading.
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Summary: Eminently Readable Account
Review: The 1983 British bid to recapture the Falkland Islands is one of the most important and least studied military undertakings of recent history. Hastings' book has been around for a long time and it's probably the best known work about the short-lived campaign. It's well researched, well written, and well edited and the order of battle appendix is a nice addition too. The epic foot march across East Falkland (in artic conditions) by the Marines and Paras of the Commando Brigade is only one of a host of impressive accomplishments by British forces. This is a veritable cornucopia of "lessons learned" from infantry operations, to air defense conundrums, to fleet tactics, to logistical problem-solving, it's all in here. If you're a military professional, this is a must read. It's too bad there are not more titles available on this topic.
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Summary: A fast-paced but thorough look, somewhat Anglocentric
Review: The Falkland Islands War was a strange event. I was only 12 at the time, but even so, I remember thinking it was very unusual that a war could start and end so quickly, between nations you would not consider traditional enemies. As the authors point out, it was the last of Britains colonial wars - fought maintain prestige more so than because of the worth of the territory. Argentina invaded the Islands on the assumption that Britain would not fight for them. Obviously they underestimated the will of the British people, and especially that of the Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, who quickly dispatched the largest task force she could muster to reclaim the islands. This book starts well before the war and explains the colonial situation and the history of Argentina's attempts to win sovreignty over the islands they can the Malvinas. It then moves to the details of the actual invasion and attempts to rationalise the motives behind the Argentine junta's decision. The book really hits its stride with the dispatch of the task force and the battles that then took place on land and at sea. The book was written shortly after the end of the war. Max Hastings is a journalist that accompanied the task force, and brings a level of authenticity that only a first-hand experience can give. Simon Jenkins's contribution was on the home front, detailing the cabinet and parliamentary discussions and direction of the war. That these two parts seamlessly mesh is a credit to the editor. Even though there was little time between the end of hostilities and the release of the book, the conclusions of the authors have stood the test of time. Unfortunately, we will likely never know all the details about the Argentine side (due to the instability of the government at the time), so most of the commentary and description of events is from the point of view of the British forces. The authors are careful not to "cheerlead" the British side, and condemn both sides equally for failing to resolve the dispute peacefully. Most importantly, the book is very easy to read, and tells an exciting story besides. The conclusions are inescapeable - the British won due to superior training, tactics, and motivation of the footsoldier on the ground. Full marks go to the Argentine Air Force for their spirited conduct during the hostilities, but air power alone cannot win a war. The authors also blame the situation on the lack of human intellegence (as opposed to signal or satellite intel) that totally missed the imminent threat to the Falklands from Argentina. They further argue for balanced armed forces because, as we rediscovered on Sept. 11, you never know what kind of threat you will face. These conclusions are applicable today, which tells for the universality and timelessness of this fine account.
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Summary: The definate work on England's Last Hurrah
Review: The Falklands war is a piece of history that is largely forgotten piece of history, whose lessions are ignored these days. If Hastings & Jenkins book was better known that wouldn't be the case. This book does a fine job covering all of the aspects of the conflict from the history of the Falklands, the diplomatic moves and the anxieties of both England and Argentina. The accounts of the Battles and the Bravery of British troops would not shock a student of history, but might shock a person writing a history of England over the last 30 years. The heart of what was once the Greatest Empire in the world was laid bare and this books shows that heart in the person of the brave men who fought there. The most telling moment of the book for me was the aftermath when they talked to people about what was learned. Three things stood out. The Flyers of Argentina were basically abandon to fight one of the strongest nations in the world without proper support. The fought and died bravely. The lack of support by their government and the other branches of their military was disgraceful. A statement made concerning tactics and training said a mouthful. To paraphrase: "These guys can't believe that it comes down to training and dedication. They think there is a secret pill or buttion that makes things work if only they could be told what it was." Training and skill made the difference here. It is why England always had the edge. Finally the statement that it was shocking that England would actually fight. This belief in the weakness of demorcratic countries has caused the fall of many over the last 100 years. It is a lesson still being learned today. All of these points are brought to life in this book. It is an engaging read and very relevent for the times. Highly recommended.
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Summary: Simply the best!
Review: This authoritiative, exhaustive and informative account of the Falklands war does justice to what the author calls a 'freak of history', 'the last colonial war'. THe combined team of Hastings and Jenkins helps shed light on all aspects of the war.
-The convoluted history that led argentina to 'gamble' on an invasion of the forgotten Falkland islands.
-The 'Iron Lady' and the argentinian misunderstanding of the western democracies will to fight.
-The truth behind the intelligence failures on the islands and the truth behind the FACT that Falklanders had no interest in being Argentine subjects(sort of like Gibralter).
-Wonderful accounts of the Sea and Air combat and final assualt that took back the island. A great book about a largely forgotten war that ook place only 20 years ago but has totally been erased from western counsciousness.
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Summary: A very sound endeavour
Review: This book bears the hall mark of hard work and diligence. It is journalism rather than history, but will doubtless be of great use to historians in the future. The authors have a very good eye for detail, and Max Hastings's presence as a reporter in the Falklands campaign must have been invaluable in the production of this book. Inevitably there are signs of hurried writing. Some places mentioned more than once in the text do not appear on any of the maps. And in spite of the glossary at the end of the book, the plethora of initials and technical terms were sometimes confusing. Also the public school and Oxford background of the authors shows through, not only in their style of writing, but in their references to PPE and "a Wykehamist", for example. Indeed, on no less than four occasions, the former school of an officer is mentioned, but never that of a private or NCO. Nevertheless, the connections of the authors must have been of great help in writing this book. I was impressed by the balanced judgements of the two writers. But that does not mean that they are anodyne. They also identify some salient points. For example, British officers led from the front, unlike their Argentine equivalents. And the thorough training of the British troops more than made up for the expensive armaments of the Argentine army. Generally, this book should provide sobering reading for any military dictator planning an invasion.
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Summary: A fascinating book
Review: This book is an in-depth study of the war fought between the United Kingdom and Argentina over the Falkland Islands from April to June 1982. The book begins with a highly informative history of the islands, focusing on the two countries' claims to the islands. The war is recounted in excellent depth, focusing heavily on the British side. The final chapter is on the aftermath of the war, which is severely limited, due to the fact that the book was published in 1983. Finally, there are three excellent appendices: A covers the British task force, giving everything from silhouettes of the ships and airplanes through list of the units involved complete with their commanders; B lists the honors given to Falklands veterans; and appendix C contains the Franks Report on the conflict. The maps contained in the book are excellent, as are the numerous black-and-white pictures. This book is quite fascinating, and highly informative on the war. I found myself completely unable to put this book down, but just had to read a little more, and a little more, and a little more... I wish that it contained more information on the Argentine side, which would give the book more all-around information. However, that said, it is a great book, giving the reader a good idea of what happened both on the battlefield, and in the halls of the politicians (a great deal of the British side was run for more political, rather than military reasons). This is a great book, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in this fascinating war.
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Summary: The politics and logistics of an avoidable war.
Review: This has to be the most definitive account, from a British perspective, of a war that continues to invoke emotive reactions when discussed either side of the Atlantic. The narrative is perfectly balanced with the immediacy of the action described by Max hasting who was on the ground with the Task Force and the intrigue of the politics explained with unnerving clarity by Simon Jenkings. The book interwieves a stark narrative of the realities of battle with an enlightening view on the working of politicians and their influence on the start and ultimate outcome of war. While the book should appeal for those with a thirst for the factual, there is sufficient analysis of both the strategy of battle and the politics of war to satisfy most. I began reading this book looking for answers to how and why the war started, in this regard I feel the account fully satisfied my curiosity. What surprised me was the degree to which the descriptions of the strategy for naval warfare invoked images and scenarios that were as reminiscent of ancient history as they were relevant to contemporary conflicts. Descriptions of diplomatic efforts to forestall a war, the series of mis-communications that led ultimately to open conflict, the initial celebrations in suport of the Task Force and the ultimate subdued reaction to conclusion of war all make sobering reading. For detailed tactical accounts of naval battles this must be one of the best case studies since the Second World War. The ultimate question as to whether the war was justified or otherwise is analysed in conclusion although the authors err on the side of impartiality raising more questions than answers. A thoroughly recommended read.
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