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The shortest war in history lasted only 38 minutes

The Anglo-Zanzibar War, fought between the United Kingdom and Zanzibar on August 27, 1896, holds the record for the shortest war in recorded history. The conflict was sparked by a dispute over who should be the ruler of Zanzibar, and the British issued an ultimatum to the pro-German sultan. When it was ignored, the British launched a naval attack on the island, which lasted a mere 38 minutes before Zanzibar surrendered. The war was a decisive British victory, and it marked the beginning of British colonial rule in Zanzibar.