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Preparations to mark the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Falkland Islands

Tuesday, January 15th 2013 - 06:43 UTC
Full article 76 comments

At the invitation of Mensun Bound, some twenty-five people, including three members of the Falklands elected Legislative Council met to consider ways in which the one hundredth anniversary of the Battle of the Falkland Islands should be marked, when it falls on December 8, 2014. Read full article

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  • Rufus

    Maybe they could have a delegation from the Argentine Step Aerobics (or Men's Field Hockey team) visit, complete with placards reading things like:

    “To fail to compete on British Soil, fail to train on Argentine Soil”

    “We play alongside the worlds least successful marathon runner”

    “Want a war memorial desecrated, why not Zylberberg”

    and so on...

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 09:52 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Lou Spoo

    I would like to see representatives of the UK/German Governments & navies invited so that each nation can pay their respects to the losses on both sides.

    It would also be a lesson to the fools in Argentina on how nations should honour their war dead, with dignity and respect rather than using them as political tools.

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 10:14 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Shed-time

    @2 Hasn't KFC-timmerman had all her war dead disinterred by the red 'argie' cross and then paraded on national 'argie' telly in some weird ghoul-fest yet?

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 11:17 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Rufus

    @2 Lou, you're right. Possibly combined with a port visit by a modern Deutche Marine ship (possibly even one of their new air defence frigates like the one the Daily Fail had a picture of, with a caption calling it HMS Edinburgh (they've fixed it now though)).

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 11:20 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Gustbury

    2@ We honor our dead and yours---ASSHOLE!!

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 12:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Santa Fe

    5- Thats why you refused to repatriate your dead after the war, the UK even offered to help. Its better politically to leave them where their families can rarely afford to visit. Respect

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 12:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Boovis

    @6: yup, and remember the islands asked Argentina how they can help repatriate the dead, Argentina turned their noses and said “la la we can't hear you” and then complained to the red cross saying the UK never offered to help, even though the UK wouldn't be the ones to organise it. Typical.
    I think the red cross might be more concerned with the unmapped minefields and 19,000 mines the argies left behind, that's more of a pressing humanitarian matter, those soldiers' problems are over, sadly, the living have to deal with those mines every day.

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 01:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Lou Spoo

    @5 What's wrong fuckwit? Did I touch a nerve?

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 01:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Santa Fe

    5.... American spelling of honour Gustbury are you really a US citizen???
    what is your troll character, where do you claim to live???

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 01:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • andy65

    @Gustbury everytime you open your Troll mouth you get slapped down so why do you bother.
    Argentina after surrender would not even accept its living soilders back because the Junta had told so many lies (just like today with Kirchner) Argentines were under the impression they were winning the war LOL
    ARE YOU STILL THROWING EACHOTHER FROM C130 AIRCRAFT???

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 01:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Conqueror

    @5 LYING ASSHOLE!! What was faggot Zylberburger doing dishonouring a Falklands war memorial? On the instructions of bloated slapper CFK.
    @6 Let's adopt an argie tradition. Dig up their war dead and drop them from low-flying aircraft so they can “honour” them. Would our aircraft get clearance? If not, just drop them in the sea. That's another argie tradition.

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 01:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Lou Spoo

    @5

    'Even after death, these servicemen are being used in a war of words in a cold-hearted attempt to point score on the international stage'

    http://en.mercopress.com/2011/08/05/falklands-malvinas-conflict-to-honour-the-dead-not-use-them

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 01:47 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • José Malvinero

    A more historical evidence of the strategic value of the Malvinas Argentinas Islands and why his usurpation. Self-determination, no way.
    The only legitimate battle of Malvinas was fought by Argentine forces against the invading English pirate in 1982.

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 01:54 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Simon68

    13 José Malvinero (#)
    Jan 15th, 2013 - 01:54 pm

    So, José Malvinero, you are an admitted supporter of the Junta Militar. I'm sure Cristina will be thrilled with the way you've just shot down her “human rights” facade!!!!!!!

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 02:01 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Lou Spoo

    @13 'The only legitimate battle of Malvinas was fought by Argentine forces against the invading English pirate in 1982.'

    Is that so? Then perhaps you'd care to explain why UN (BINDING) resolution 502 clearly states the Security Council was:

    'deeply disturbed at reports of an invasion on 2 April 1982 by armed forces of Argentina'?

    No mention of pirates I'm afraid. But then as the UN is a professional organisation I wouldn't expect them to speak like a 7 year old child or a retard .......I'll leave that to the likes of you.

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 02:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • José Malvinero

    15

    So the UN is a “professional organization”. Looks like your little queen does not think so. More than 40 of its resolutions waiting for sleep of the dead. Bobo.

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 02:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Simon68

    José Malvinero is a supporter of the Military Junta!!!!!!

    He is not worth even thiking about, far less answering!!!!!

    Nunca más!!!!!!

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 02:33 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • redpoll

    @@, @4 Lou, Rufus. An excellent idea. But the war dead of any nations should NEVER be used to score political points. Warfare was conducted in a more civilized manner in those days as shown by Admial Sturdees note to the senior German survivor of the Falklands battle, Commander Pochammer. As to Coronel, Admiral Kit Cradock and Adm Maximilian Graf von Spee actually knew each other very well having fought together in China and Cradock had a medal for that action given him by the Kaiser. So perhaps the memorial centenary should also include the war memorial in Coronel Chile also. Perhaps some sort of homage could also be paid to the crew of HMS Doterel which blew up in Puntas Arenas harbour on26th April 1881 in an accident similar to that which occured to the USS Maine.
    No German Navy vessel bears the name of any of the vessels which fought the 1914 battles. Hoever there is a German frigate Emden was part of Von Spees squadron though I think she is shortly due to scrapped The original SMS Emden, whose brilliant raiding cruise deserves to be better known. She had beautiful lines and was known as the Swan of the East. Perhaps it might be fitting that the last of that name should perform her swan song by participating in the Falklands and Coronel commemorations

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 02:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Condorito

    In a quiet corner of the Punta Arenas cemetery, there is a small grave stone flanked by two artillery shells, painted black, that reads: In memory of Admiral von Spee, his two sons and the 2200 German sailor who lost their life in the Battle of the Falklands.

    I came across this memorial by chance, having never read of it - very moving.

    Off topic a bit:
    Von Spee was lured into a trap in the Falklands by British intelligence who had cracked German naval codes. As was the case in WW2, the British 'owned' German intelligence. I ask myself, given the UK's track record in leading the world in intelligence, how come the '82 invasion wasn't foreseen (or was it?). Maybe total unpredictability has some limited advantages against an organised adversary.

    @13 Jose Malvinero
    “A more historical evidence of the strategic value of the Malvinas Argentinas ”

    The strategic importance was never in question. The “Malvinas Argentinas” part, however is.

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 03:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • WestisBest

    @19

    The possibility of invasion was forseen, hence the 'tripwire'. The Argentinians chose to believe that the UK government was bluffing...not a good call.

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 03:47 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • redpoll

    Condorito. Sorry about the misplaced text in my previous. I think there is or was a statue of von Spee in Puntas Arenas, the only one ever erected to him anywhere. A great man IMO. I dont think the lackadaisical Sturdee took much notice of intelligence info, He was caught napping by von Spee with al his fleet coaling or under repair at Port Stanley with only HMS Kent at sea as a guard ship which Spee could easily have overwhelmed. He turned away and that sealed the fate of his squadron. There is a succesor to the Kent in service at present with the RN. There is also a Monmouth whose predeccesor was sunk with all hands at Coronel

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 03:55 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Lou Spoo

    @16 Josie (nice girls name by the way)

    I see that as you can't deny resolution 502 clearly identifies Argentina as the invader in 1982 you instead decided to spout some shite about the Queen, conveniently proving my point in post 15. You sir, are an idiot!

    By the way, one of the Queens handbags commands more respect on the international stage than that sad sack of shit you call a President.

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 04:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Gordo1

    José Malvinero - you clearly live in the same world as “Alice in Wonderland” as encouraged by General Peròn.

    Dream on, pibe, the Falkland Islands are British Territory - they have never been part of Argentina!

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 04:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Conor J

    A very interesting event for anyone who is keen on history. One of the Naval conflicts of WW1 to take place in the Southern Hemisphere.

    @16
    You're not very bright are you?

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 05:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Gustbury

    6@ Repatriate? They rest on their land!!!
    11@ muppett!!

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 05:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Condorito

    25:
    Definition of Muppet: a person who spells Muppet, “muppett”.
    Muppet!

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 06:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • toooldtodieyoung

    5 Gustbury

    Really?? You do?? So far as I have heard, there is no 11th November in BA.
    You mean to say that on the 11th hour of the 11 month, KFC, TMBOA and Timerman and all of their “Yes” men gather by some monument in BA, built to honour the dead in all wars, and they remember the war dead of Argentina and her allies???
    And then KFC makes a speech about how the “Glorious dead” did not die in vain and how they will live on in the hearts of their families.
    Then she wraps up the speech by calling forward the families of the soldiers / airmen / seamen who fought so bravely and died so needlessly in 1982 and she apologies on behalf of the Junta to each and every one of them for the mistakes of the previous government

    Does that really happen??

    I think you are lying.... That doesn't happen at all does it? Not anywhere, at anytime in Argentina.

    25 Gustbury

    You know what I'm going to say don't you?? Yes, yes you do!!! You can say the word with me if you like........... CLOWN!!!!!

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 06:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • redpoll

    Rg trolls. The battle took place between British and German forces at sea off some islands you say dont exist. So for you it didnt happen. Now get lost!

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 07:14 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • José Malvinero

    22

    “Clearly Identifies Argentina 502 resolution as the invader in 1982”, in the particular way of interpreting it with the English, who at no time justified the force that resolution.
    If it is favor of me, the “professional organization” UN is infallible, but it is not, is a shit and 40 resolutions are errors of “professional organization”. Are you intelligent?

    17 simon68

    RIDICULOUS!!!!!!!!!

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 07:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • briton

    In the name of peace and friendship,
    All participating nations should be invited,
    Except argentina, as they will not conduct themselves properly , respectably,
    And honourably,

    Still
    It’s the thought that counts.

    .

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 07:40 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • toooldtodieyoung

    29 José Malvinero

    Oh dear, oh, dear, oh dear....... Did you know not to argue with your elders and your betters??

    You are just a brainwashed, loudmouthed child who constantly vomits propaganda without thinking for himself. You would do well to listen to Simon68 who is ONE OF YOUR OWN COUNTRYMEN, before you spout off any more of your b*ll*cks. You are not even fit to tie simon's shoe laces, let alone argue with him.

    Now run along home child, it's past your bedtime.

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 07:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Lou Spoo

    @29 'the particular way of interpreting it with the English'

    LOL, so it's Opposite Land! Where crooks chase cops and cats have puppies and where the UNSC being 'Deeply disturbed at reports of an invasion on 2 April 1982 by armed forces of Argentina' means the UK must justify a UN resolution condemning it?

    The clue is in the word “INVASION”. It means Argentina was the I-N-V-A-D-E-R. Would it help if it was written in crayon? Or maybe we could add a few pictures and some fuzzy felts for you?

    I'd also suggest not questioning another’s intelligence level when you're too ignorant to understand the difference between a binding Security Council resolution and the non binding recommendations that come from the General Assembly.

    http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/3b00f1703b.html

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 08:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Think

    (18) redpoll
    You say:
    “Warfare was conducted in a more civilized manner in those days.....”

    I say:
    As a member of a clan that has excelled in smashing British skulls during the last fifteen centuries, including WWI, I must ask....:
    Sos gil o morfaste vidrio?

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 08:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • cornishair

    33 Think. What Clan would that be?. You can't be of Spanish or italian blood :)

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 08:54 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Conqueror

    @13 When the arsielanders LOST!
    @16 DEATH TO ARSIELAND!!!!!!
    @25 You do know that every one of the scum has a stake through its heart, don't you? And let's not forget to get every one of OUR troops to crap in their body bags before they get dumped. Arsies and shit. Quite normal!
    @29 Thank you. Don't ever bother to quote “UN resolutions” again. So let's stick with the “real” world. Where we're quite happy to kill every one of you fuckers. “Intelligent”, you certainly aren't. But it won't matter when you've been exterminated, will it? I want you exterminated. All 41 million and a bit of YOU. I particularly want videos so that I can see arsies writhing and screaming in agony before they die. I want to see arsie intestines under British army boots. I want to see arsie throats being cut. Slowly. I want to see arsie body parts with incredible distances between them. Arsie head - 50 metres - arsie torso - 75 metres - arsie leg - 200 metres - arsie genitals. Don't make any mistake. Officially, we can, where appropriate, offer respect and honour. Individually, at bottom line, we''d like to see every arsie scum die, in agony, over many hours. I'd like to see piles of dismembered arsie dead. Before we use them to feed marine animals. I want to see arsieland TOTALLY depopulated. Then WE can populate it with people instead of animals. Sometimes I surprise myself at how much I hate arsies! Must have a drink to get over it.

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 08:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • redpoll

    @33 soy gil Think. You say as a member of a clan that has excelled in smashing British skulls .. including WW1” I thought you said you were Scandinavian, none of which countries took part in WW1. So what are you really? German? Austrian? or a Turco perhaps?
    I might add that the battle memorial at Stanley commemorates the dead on both sides of the 1914 battle, both British and German

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 09:03 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Islander1

    Gustbury - So Arg honours its war dead?
    Why did so many of your Army Officers and NCOs refuse to identify the bodies of your conscripts killed in the battles in the hills around Stanley to the British? After EACH Battle the British tried to identify your dead - your army REFUSED to! Remember also it was Argentina that refused to issue ID discs to its conscripts - only the regular troops got them.

    Remember it was Argentina who for months after the conflict REFUSED to reply to any of the requests sent from Britain with the Int Red Cross - “What do you want us to do with your war dead?”
    There was just a total silence! Eventually - out of humanity and respect for fallen soldiers - Britain built the cemetery at Darwin and got all the bodies respectfully and honourably buried there. - Arg did nothing! NOTHING - until your private financed Families Commission eventually came along and paid for a new memorial wall to be built there as well.
    You really are a badly informed idiot.

    Redpoll- the idea is to incorporate both Coronel and the Falklands. Condor- UK was not reading German signals then- Von Spee did not expect the brtish to respond so fast and send battle cruisers south after Coronel- when the same people in London refused to allow the battleship Defence - then in Montevideo to even go and join Craddock before Coronel! he had requested her as he knew his mission was suicidal. Sadly thats why so many of his men went to sea drunk after their last night ashore in Stanley in Oct 2014 - they all knew they were sailing to their deaths as Von Spee had such a superior force.
    Imagine what it took all those men to do that - go back onto your ships and leave port - knowing that you were unlikley to ever see your homes and family again?

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 09:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • José Malvinero

    32

    Bla, Bla, Bla binding or non-binding resolution, blah blah blah.
    The issue before the arrogant Britain was going to end the party sooner or later and must return what they have stolen.
    Ignore 40 UN resolutions because it not suits them, implies a stubborn refusal to observe the part of a member, which is an crime as stated in Resolution No. 2621 which states that “the continuation of colonialism in all its forms and manifestations, IS A CRIME that violates the United Nations Charter and the principles of International Law ”.
    But in a country like England, a further offense, a misdemeanor, what makes you! A stripe over the tiger!
    And speaking of the sacrosanct Resolution number 502, what happened immediately after the war? Answer: UN Resolution No. 37/9 of the General Assembly, November 4, 1982: Whereas the colonial situation incompatible with the idea of universal peace, calls on both governments to resume negotiations to find a peaceful resolution to the sovereignty dispute.
    To, but I forgot, is not binding!

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 09:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Think

    (36) Redpoll

    Your comment (33) showed that you know little about the “real” WWI...
    Your comment (36) shows that you know even less about Scandinavian history, military traditions and allegiances.....

    I might add that the “Victory Monument” at Stanley commemorates the “Destruction of the German Squadron under vice Admiral Graf von Spee......”
    Not a world about the dead on either side.....
    Stop romanticizing war..
    It's pathetic...

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 09:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • José Malvinero

    35
    In the Cuyo region of our beloved homeland and in Salta and La Rioja and Patagonia also, there are excellent wines “Must have to drink to get over it”, yes should be drunk in moderation which is not very common among kelpers like you.

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 09:40 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • toooldtodieyoung

    39 Think

    Hooray for Think!!! Always first with the wrong answer!! No, actually, the answer to the question that nobody asked!!

    Oh the joy of half truths, misrepresentation and lies huh think?

    Come on then Think, you might as well get it wrong along with the rest of them, do please tell us about the “real” WWI......what was I “think”ing???

    Oh yes, that was it!! What would an Argentinian, whose country sheltered so many nazi war crime suspects after WW II, know about WW I ??? I'm sure, pretty sure that I didn't see an Argentinian forces on the order of ANY battle......

    Get off your high horse Think... you ain't fooling anyone.............

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 09:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Shed-time

    @39 Your bank notes, your head of state and your news outlets regularly romanticise war. Are you calling all them and yourself pathetic? Gosh.

    @40 you only drink it in moderation because your entire pension is now worth 0.3USD thanks to your glorious leader.

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 10:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • redpoll

    Think
    Its you who are pathetic. I am not glorifying war- far from it. I have the letters from the front from my great uncle, a 2nd Lt killed at the second battle of Arras. But at the start of war certain courtesies were observed. As to Scandinavian history I really quite au fait with that, ectually old boy. All of them were neutrals in WW1. The Danes had suffered a major defeat by Bismarks Prussia 40 years previously and gave up Schleswig Holstien as a result. Norway was a newly indepedent county from Sweden. Sweden was neutral and I think Finland was still part of Imperial Russia at that time
    But heres a consolation prize for you Think.
    Admiral Maximilian Graf von Spee was actually born in Copenhagen, his maternal grandfather being a noted Italian opera singer at the Royal Opera House in that city

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 10:33 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Gordo1

    @40 José Malvinero

    Pibe, when are you going to have an original thought of your own? All you do is paraphrase and/or copy other Argentine propaganda which, as I said, before - ¡aburre!

    ¡Dejenos tranquilos! We don't the opinions of children like you!

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 10:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • redpoll

    @44 Gordo why do you bother to reply to these malevos/malvados / malvinistas? It just stokes thier egos and gives them a chance to tell more lies on these blogs which is what they are paid for
    BTW greetings from a sunny Uruguay to a leafless Surrey

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 10:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Pete Bog

    @38
    “Whereas the colonial situation incompatible”

    So why is Argentina trying to colonise the Falkland Islands you halfwit?

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 11:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • redpoll

    @37 Yes I am sorry to say that the Defense got order and counterorder to join Cradock but I m afraid to say by the woolly and contradictory signals nterfering in tactical affairs from the First Lord of the Admiralty, one Mr Winston Churchill, Cradock couldnt understand the obtuse signals from the Admiralty and in view of the fact that Troubridge had recently been courtmartiled for doing nothing to prevent the escape of the SMS Goeben Kit Cradock wasnt going to suffer that fate. He knew it was a folorn hope without the Defence and his capital ship the pre Dreadnought Canopus and so it turned out with the Monmouth, the cape of Good hope and the AMC Ortanto being lost with all hands

    Jan 15th, 2013 - 11:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • malicious bloke

    @39, those Argentine banknotes romanticising the conquest of the desert...do they spare a thought for the victims of that genocide?

    And the newly minted coin celebrating the anniversary or Argentina's invasion of the Falkland Islands in 1982, do they bear an inscription paying homage to the 255 British servicemen and 3 civilians who lost their lives during the liberation?

    No? Didn't think so.

    Hypocrite.

    Jan 16th, 2013 - 12:23 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • José Malvinero

    44 Gordy

    “Pibe”, “Dejenos tranquilos”, in Castilian!!!!!!!!!!!
    To me they have erased for much less, in this democratic blog!
    Oh, by the way we can not “leave them alone” until usurpation are end.

    Jan 16th, 2013 - 01:06 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • redpoll

    Think, military coutesies are still observed. When an Argentine submariner was killed at Soth Georgia through misunderstanding on language he was buried with full military honours as atribute to a fallen comrade in arms. Your magazine “Gente” tried to slur the ceremony into a propaganda issue. Yes I have the issues of that mag of the period. I fyou sign up voluntarily for military duty its “my country right or wrong” no matter who has the political power
    I dont think anybody who was in the war doubts the skill and courage of the Argentine pilots. It wasnt thier fault that thier bombs didnt go off or that thier ejection seats didnt work and suffered the highest attrition rate of any airforce in any war
    Most British sailors were disgusted by the Suns headline “Gottcha”” on the sinking of the Belgrano also
    But if Cristina keeps twisting the lions tail this time if she ties a stunt there will be a massive response. Perhaps not so violent as our favourite old chestnut Conkers advocates but a couple of military bases could probably be flattened with Tomahawk missiles. Squawks to the UN. And what are they going to do about it apart from a lot of hot air coming mainly from Latam countries who are privately laughing up thier sleeves at Argentinas discomfort. Come on Think- you care for your country. Cristinas meglomania is going to take you over the cliff if you arent careful. Stop it, or an awful lot of young men are going to get killed once more

    Jan 16th, 2013 - 01:45 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Boovis

    @43: Finland isn't in Scandinavia as it does not have a Scandinavian language and was also not a kingdom in the triple alliance (although it was through Sweden, but never as a single state). Finnish soldiers fought for Russia as a duchy until 1917 but many soldiers also secretly fought for the Germans, it was made further clear where Finland's allegiances lay when the whites had help from Germany during their civil war in 1918/1919 against the reds supported by the newly formed Soviet Union.
    Finland has mainly fought for itself, though, so you shouldn't read too much into any military alliances they make, it's always about considering the future of the motherland first and then cutting off these allegiances once the goals have been achieved. They tried that, didn't always work though.
    I'd point out that their kill ratio against the Russians in the 1940's was 1 finn for 10 russians. Shame they aren't in NATO!

    Jan 16th, 2013 - 06:23 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • toooldtodieyoung

    45 redpoll

    .....and Freezing cold!! Top day time temperature here in Nottingham -2. That is enough to wake anyone up!!

    50 redpoll

    I'm afraid that you are right. This war of words, this constant pushing from KFC et al could so easily escalate.... sadly, wars have started over a lot less over the years. I think that if she keeps pushing and pushing... and congratulating herself for what she has “Got away with” eventually, she WILL do something truely, truely stupid. By the time she realises what she has done, it will be too late and, as you so wisely said “an awful lot of young men are going to get killed once more”

    Jan 16th, 2013 - 07:17 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Santa Fe

    Think - Stop glorifying war...and your first statement is you come from a clan that has excelled in smashing british skulls...you really a lying clown

    clan my @ass another made up troll identity

    Jan 16th, 2013 - 08:11 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Shed-time

    Wait a minute... didn't KFC recently say it was terrible to glorify war?

    Then apparently they started handing out medals to regional leaders who helped out, printed some new coins to glorify a war, and had some bank-notes glorifying one of the worst genocides that humanity has seen.

    I see Think is ingrained with the same trait of pathological hypocrisy that his supposed countrymen are.

    Jan 16th, 2013 - 11:17 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • redpoll

    @52 That cold? Perhaps a Trip to Jerusalem might at least warm the inner man!

    Jan 16th, 2013 - 12:03 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Gordo1

    @45 Redpoll

    I purposely provoke idiots like José Malvinero (what a silly pen name, by the way!) in an effort to make them show themselves more pathetic than they are already.

    PS The sun is shining here in leafless Surrey - temperature hovering around zero Centigrade.

    Saludos.

    Jan 16th, 2013 - 12:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Boovis

    @52 and @55: here it's -6 daytime and on friday it's going to be -14 daytime/-18 night time so “I win” :D

    Jan 16th, 2013 - 02:05 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Condorito

    @21redpoll
    I have never seen a statue in Punta Arenas to Spee, but I have never looked that well. Next time I am down there I will hunt it out. Chicureo would probably know.

    @37 Islander1
    “Condor- UK was not reading German signals then”
    They most certainly were. German naval codes were cracked right at the start of the war and subsequent code changes were cracked quickly too. The Germans (like in WW2) believed their codes were unbreakable - you would have thought they would have learned the second time round.

    Interception of German messages was crucial and one incident the “Zimmerman Telegram” was key to bring the US into the war.

    On the matter of the Falklands, there is some mystery as to why Spee went to the Falklands. His last official orders (in Valparaiso) were to head for home. The fact that two British battle cruisers had been dispatched was both expected and known by the Germans.

    Jan 16th, 2013 - 04:00 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Think

    (50) redpoll

    You say:
    “……. If Cristina keeps twisting the lions tail this time if she ties a stunt there will be a massive response..............”

    I say:
    We are not twisting no ”Lions Tail”.
    We are confronting common thieves and squatters on a pacific, lawful and civilized manner….

    Anyhow…..

    I’ll put your above ” Anglo Wet Dream” where it rightly belongs….
    Together with your other imaginary and conspiratory thoughts as the broken Argentinean Atomic Plant or your imaginary Argentinean Invasion Plans against Uruguay….

    Jan 16th, 2013 - 06:33 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • reality check

    Condorito

    The RN 's listening station was located at Hunstanton in Norfolk. The building is still there, used today by HM Coast Guard, A small brick built affair with nothing to inddicate the part it played in our history.

    Jan 16th, 2013 - 06:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • toooldtodieyoung

    55 redpoll

    A good idea!! Might do that on Friday!!

    57 Boovis

    You can win!! With those temperatures, I am glad to be the loser! even at it's coldest ( tonight it says it's going to be -5 ) I still can not compete with that. Time to get the thermals out I think.......

    Jan 16th, 2013 - 06:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Islander1

    Condorito- maybe you are right about those early day radio messages. But Von Spee was certainly not expecting 2 modern Invincible class battlecruisers to be in Stanley as early as 8th December.
    He came purely to capture the coal- important stuff in those days - and destroy the wirelass station - was not interested in conquest of the Islands although I guess he might have made off with the then Governor as his prisoner perhaps.
    Armend merchant liner Otranto was not sunk at Coronel - she was ordered away to escape by Craddock. As was HMS Glasgow - they brought word of the defeat to Stanley. Glasgow may have gone inshore later to pick up the 4 men from GoodHope(or Monmouth) who had been put ashore earlier that day as spotters - and thus were the only survivors from both ships.

    Jan 16th, 2013 - 09:05 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • redpoll

    @59 I thought think we had a trato that we were not going to insult each other. Obviously I was mistaken. Must have been all of aweek ago whenI said “its a deal” If I wasnt mistaken it just shows how you and your countrymen renege on any agreement Back to your dank dark clamp among the weevils manglewurzel.

    Jan 16th, 2013 - 09:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Condorito

    Islander1:
    No he wasn't expecting them to be there, but he knew they had been sent to find him. German spies in England notified their command that Invincible and Inflexible had been sent to the South Atlantic and they knew they could do 25 knots. The battle cruisers actually took far longer to reach the FI than expected, so Spee knew his days were numbered.

    It made no sense to attack Stanley. When Spee consulted his officers on the plan, they all rejected it, but he went ahead anyway. A coaling station was far less valuable than Spee's squadron. If Spee had headed north into the Atlantic he would have evaded the two battle cruisers and could have continued to play a part in the war.

    As the German admiralty asked after the event, how did Spee manage to sail right to the two battle cruisers and in complete contradiction to his orders and the wishes of his men?

    @59
    Think, how is it that a Swede living on land once inhabited by the Patagonian indigenous peoples, gets to call Kelpers, living on previously uninhabited land, “squatters”? It is not very becoming of such a humanitarian. Sauce for the goose, you know.

    Jan 16th, 2013 - 09:47 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Think

    (63) redpoll

    You say:
    “@59 I thought think we had a trato that we were not going to insult each other.”

    I say:
    And where have I “insulted” you?
    By calling the British in Malvinas “common thieves and squatters” instead of “Lions”?
    By remembering your repeated asseveration on this pages about Atucha's Nuclear plant being broken?
    Or by mentioning your recent comments about some ”Argentinean Invasion plan against Uruguay?

    Thin skinned aren't we?

    Jan 16th, 2013 - 10:01 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • redpoll

    Islander and condorito,
    Lots of comments o the 1914 naval battles but just one for the present. Niether the Brits nor thier boffins in Room 40 broke the code. they were handed to them on a platter by the Russians who captured the SMS Magdeburg when she went aground in the Gulf of Finland. The signals officer of the Glasgow certianly had the code as he was able to more or less decipher the SMS Dreden signals from the Chilean Island of Mas a Afuera. We musnt forget that radio was in its infancy at the time and most of the time von Speewas out of touch with the Admiralstab
    An interesting foot note on the scuttling of SMS Dresden is one Lt Wilhelm Canaris (Kieker), sent to negotiate surrender term with Capt Luce. He later became head of Hitlers Abwehr before being hanged in 1945 at Flossenburg prison in 1945 for a supposed plot against Hitler. Fascinating reading
    Condorito You are right.There is no statue to von Spee at Puntas Arenas just the cemetry memorial. Blame my indifferent German in translating the word “Denkmal”

    Jan 16th, 2013 - 11:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Condorito

    redpoll
    I think you are being unfair on the boffins. A code book is only part of the puzzle. The Germans knew the code book was in enemy hands and still considered their code unbreakable. Later in the war the Germans made changes to their code making, but they were also cracked in short time.

    Room 40 was only naval intelligence and the Magdeburg book only contained naval codes. None the less, German army and diplomatic codes were also broken. The British were way ahead of the Germans in this area in both WWs.

    Jan 16th, 2013 - 11:40 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • redpoll

    Ok condorito I would agree with you. Way off topic Iknow but if it wasnt for Alan Turing and his team at Bletchley Park cracking the enigma codes the Allies may have lost the war. Did Turing get any recocognition+ no he did not. He was hounded for being a homosexual which resulted in his suicide Shame on you Great Britain

    Jan 17th, 2013 - 12:27 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Islander1

    Condorito - well I look forward to learning more of the historic details as time approaches Nov-Dec 2014! Lets hope there can be a fitting Commemoration of both battles and the human losses , with the prescence of descendents of both sides both at Coronel in Chile and Stanley in the falklands.

    Jan 17th, 2013 - 12:40 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • redpoll

    Islander I have done considerable research on these events. I would like to know more Do you have a link to the organizing committee?

    Jan 17th, 2013 - 01:44 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • reality check

    Condorito
    Turin was a brilliant Mathematician and treated very badly, lets not forget that homosexuality was illegal in the UK until 1965. Bletchley Park was assisted greatly by the gift of an Enigma machine, copied by Polish intelligence and again in 1941 by the destroyer HMS Bulldog.

    Her most notable action was the first naval capture of a complete Enigma machine and coding documents from the German submarine U-110 on 9 May.
    1941.

    Then there was the construction of what could be considered the worlds first functional computer, Colosuss, by Telephone Engineer Tommy FLOWERS. Which Churchill ordered destroyed after the war, to prevent its secrets falling into Russian hands. Seems he knew or suspected that the British Intelligence Services had been infiltrated by traitors, even then.

    All in all it was a fantastic achievement which undoubtably saved hundreds of thousands of allied lifes. It is amazing that even though there were hundreds of people working at Bletchley, its existance was kept secret for some 4 decades after the war.



    Contents
    [hide]

    Jan 17th, 2013 - 07:30 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Condorito

    “Contents
    [hide]”?

    Decipher please.

    Jan 17th, 2013 - 02:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • redpoll

    Intelligence at the Falklands Battle
    I think that the story told by von Rinteln about his supposed interview with Adm Reginald Hall is a fictitious attempt to justify von Spees defeat . The story is that Room 40 sent a signal to Spee purporting to emanate from the German radio station at Valparaiso. One assumes that the station would be on 24 hour watch to catch any signals from von Spees squadron and would have immediately detected that it was not from them and that the Brits had sent it. They would also realise at once that thier codes had been broken
    So its a nice story but.......

    Jan 17th, 2013 - 03:43 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • reality check

    Cock up! Deciphered.

    Jan 17th, 2013 - 04:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • redpoll

    While the 1914 battles were slugged out between the Brits and the Germans, Chile also had a peripheral role. That country while neutral at the time was strongly pro German and allowed to Germans to operate a radio station at Valparaiso, Coronel was fought out in Chilean waters and the SMS Dresden was sunk at Mas a Afuera island. The survivors were interned in Chile (and mostly allowed to escape!) There is a plaque commemorating the British dead at Coronel and another at Puntas Arenas in tribute to von Speee and his sailors. But most of all it would be a reconition of the rescue of the Shakleton expedition

    Jan 17th, 2013 - 06:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Islander1

    RedPoll- so far it is just a very informal adhoc group, will soon no doubt get into gear and organised and start serious planning and funding.
    Meanwhile I would suggest Mr Bound - he also is a historical expert on it.

    Jan 18th, 2013 - 12:36 am - Link - Report abuse 0

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