DID YOU KNOW…
The World's Shortest War Lasted Less Than an Hour!
Did you know? The Anglo-Zanzibar War in 1896 holds the record for the shortest war in history, lasting a mere 38 to 45 minutes from start to finish.
The conflict began on August 27, 1896, after a pro-British Sultan of Zanzibar died and his nephew, Khalid bin Barghash, seized the throne without British approval. Britain, desiring a more compliant ruler, issued an ultimatum for Khalid to step down. When he refused to abdicate, the Royal Navy bombarded the palace for under an hour, destroying the sultan's ship and palace defenses. Khalid fled to the German consulate, and a new, British-approved sultan was swiftly installed, marking one of the most lopsided and rapid military engagements ever recorded.
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