The shortest war in history lasted 38 minutes - Apparently.
The Anglo-Zanzibar War was fought between the United Kingdom and Zanzibar on August 27, 1896. Zanzibar surrendered after just 38 minutes, making it the shortest war in recorded history. The war was sparked by a dispute over who should be the ruler of Zanzibar, and the British were determined to assert their dominance. The British warship HMS Philomel bombarded the city, and Zanzibar quickly surrendered, marking the end of the war in a mere 38 minutes.