The shortest war in history lasted only 38 minutes
In 1896, British and Zanzibar forces clashed over a dispute about who was the rightful ruler of Zanzibar. The British sent 12 ships to attack the small island, while Zanzibar could only muster one ship. The war began at 9:02 AM and ended at 9:40 AM, with Zanzibar surrendering after just 38 minutes. This brief conflict has been recognized by the Guinness World Records as the shortest war in history.