ARGENTINE FIGHT FOR THE FALKLANDS [Paperback]

Martin Middlebrook (Author), (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2009

Martin Middlebrook is the only British historian to have been granted open access to the Argentines who planned and fought the Falklands War. It ranks with Liddell Hart's The Other Side of the Hill in analyzing and understanding the military thinking and strategies of Britain's sometime enemy, and is essential reading for all who wish to understand the workings of military minds.

The author has managed to avoid becoming involved in the issue of sovereignty and concentrates entirely upon the military story. He has produced a genuine 'first' with this balanced and unique work. Among the men he met were the captain of the ship that took the scrap-metal merchants to South Georgia; the admiral in charge of planning the Falklands invasion; the marine commander and other members of the invasion force; two brigadier-generals, five unit commanders and many other men of the large army force sent to occupy and defend the islands.; the officer in charge of the Argentine garrison at Goose Green; and finally the brigadier-general responsible for the Defence of Port Stanley and soldiers of all ranks who fought the final battles.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Pen and Sword (April 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1844158888
• ISBN-13: 978-1844158881
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #535,269 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #88 in Books > History > Americas > South America > Argentina

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read if you have any interest in this conflict..., May 9, 2007

By 

Photogs-Wings (Northern Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: ARGENTINE FIGHT FOR THE FALKLANDS (Pen & Sword Military Classics (Series)) (Paperback)

I have never read one of Mr Middlebrook's books before, but I am now searching for other titles by him. Because this was one of those books that I had a hard time putting down. Up front let me say that my nationalty is British and I can remember the Falklands War like it was yesterday. However despite having read numerous accounts of the British Victory very little has been said from the perspective of the soldiers who wore the Argentine Unform. This book changes all that, and thru what where obviously some pretty intense interviews as you read this book you start to get a feeling and even an understanding of the passions and emotions of the young soldiers facing the Brits. In the western press we hear about the superiority of the British War machine during the conflict; however the Argentines did put up a spirited if ineffective defence of the Falklands. Another thing that I thought was very interesting about this book is that we get to see how and why misinformation was distributed in the fog of war. I suppose the difference between the British and Argentine governments is that we laid open the books after the conflict to the public versus the Argentines who outright lied to preserve face. Then there are the issues of the foot soldiers on the Argentine side who despite facing what is arguable the best trained army in the world, displayed uncommon gallantry far and above what the pro British press has previously reported. About the only thing I wish Mr Middlebrook had fleshed out a little more is politcs of the Argentines on the mainland.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Falklands War from an Argentine Perspective?, August 23, 2005

By 

P. C. Rixon "P. C. Rixon" (Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: ARGENTINE FIGHT FOR THE FALKLANDS (Pen & Sword Military Classics (Series)) (Paperback)

For those of you looking for something different to Sir Lawrence Freedman's official history, or Max Hastings 'Falklands War', try Martin Middlebrook's 'The Argentine Fight for the Falklands'. I bought it thinking it was another Argentine perspective. But for Falklands analysts it is still worth having in the library. Pages 131-132 alone are worth the price. Two British frigates were very nearly sunk by an Argentine submarine. Why they survived makes interesting reading and is very useful for capability analysis today.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive and readable, April 17, 2008

By 

Jeremy A. Thompson (Philadelphia, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: ARGENTINE FIGHT FOR THE FALKLANDS (Pen & Sword Military Classics (Series)) (Paperback)

This is an excellent book, compelling and well written. The author clearly went to tremendous efforts to research and understand the Argentine perspective. The many quotes from the Argentine military help one get an understanding of the rather miserable experiences they had fighting the British. Rather worryingly, the author gently suggests they might try again, even though the current Argentine govenment has allegedly ruled out the military option.