The shortest recorded war in history lasted somewhere between 38 and 45 minutes.
It occurred in 1896 between the United Kingdom and the Sultanate of Zanzibar.
After the death of the pro-British Sultan, his cousin Khalid bin Barghash seized the palace without British approval. The British Empire, which exerted strong influence over Zanzibar, demanded he step down.
He refused.
On August 27, 1896, the British issued an ultimatum: surrender by 9:00 AM or face bombardment.
The deadline passed.
At 9:02 AM, British naval ships opened fire on the palace.
The Sultan’s forces were dramatically outmatched. Within minutes, the palace was set ablaze. By around 9:40 AM, the conflict was over.
Estimates suggest around 500 Zanzibari casualties, compared to only one injured British sailor.
Khalid fled and later sought refuge in German East Africa.
This brief conflict is now known as the Anglo-Zanzibar War.
It illustrates the overwhelming imbalance of power during the height of European imperialism. What technically qualifies as a “war” can, in reality, resemble a rapid military enforcement action.
The speed of the conflict also reflects the industrial military advantage of late 19th-century empires — naval artillery versus largely defensive palace guards.
It’s a stark example of how geopolitical decisions, alliances, and imperial control could determine outcomes almost instantly.
History doesn’t always unfold over years.
Sometimes it ends in under an hour.