Shortest War in History Lasted 38 Minutes

One of the shortest recorded wars in history which lasted between 38 and 45 minutes was fought in 1896 between the United Kingdom and Zanzibar, located off the coast of the African mainland.

The immediate cause of the war was a succession dispute within the Sultanate of Zanzibar. The British had interests in the region and supported one of the claimants, while another claimant, who was more sympathetic to British interests, declared himself the Sultan without British approval.

In response, the British issued a request to the new Sultan, demanding that he step down.

When the ultimatum expired, the British Royal Navy bombarded the Sultan’s palace and other defensive positions. The Sultan’s forces sustained roughly 500 casualties, while only one British sailor was injured.

The Sultan received asylum in the German consulate before escaping to German East Africa (in the mainland part of present Tanzania). The British quickly placed their preferred Sultan in power at the head of a puppet government. The war marked the end of the Zanzibar Sultanate as a sovereign state and the start of a period of heavy British influence.

The entire conflict lasted between 38 and 45 minutes.

Shortest wars in modern history

In addition to the Anglo-Zanzibar War, there have been several other notably short wars in history. Some of them include:

Six-Day War (1967): The Six-Day War was a conflict between Israel and several Arab states, including Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. The war began on June 5, 1967, and ended on June 10, 1967. It lasted for just six days but had significant implications for the Middle East, as Israel gained control of the Sinai Peninsula, the West Bank, and the Golan Heights.

Chaco War (1932-1935): The Chaco War was fought between Bolivia and Paraguay over the Gran Chaco region. It lasted from 1932 to 1935 and is often considered one of the shortest wars in the 20th century, lasting approximately three years. Despite its relatively short duration, it resulted in significant casualties and territorial changes.

Sino-Indian War (1962): The Sino-Indian War was a brief border conflict between India and China that occurred in 1962. It lasted for about a month, from October 20 to November 21, 1962, and ended with a ceasefire. It primarily revolved around a territorial dispute in the Himalayan region.

Falklands (1982): The Falklands War was fought between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. The war began on April 2, 1982, and ended on June 14, 1982, lasting for approximately 74 days.

Gulf (1991): The Gulf War, often known as the First Gulf War, was a conflict between a coalition led by the United States and Iraq. The combat phase, known as Operation Desert Storm, began on January 17, 1991, and ended on February 28, 1991, lasting for about six weeks.