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The shortest war in history lasted 38 minutes

The Anglo-Zanzibar War, fought between the United Kingdom and Zanzibar on August 27, 1896, holds the Guinness World Record for the shortest war in history. The war began when the pro-British Sultan Hamad bin Thuwaini died, and the opposing faction, supported by Germany, placed a new sultan on the throne. The British responded with a naval blockade, and after 38 minutes of bombardment, Zanzibar surrendered, marking the end of the war. The conflict was sparked by a dispute over who should become the next sultan of Zanzibar.