The shortest war in history lasted only 38 minutes - Apparently.
The Anglo-Zanzibar War, fought between the United Kingdom and Zanzibar on August 27, 1896, is recorded as the shortest war in recorded history. The war was sparked by a dispute over who should be the ruler of Zanzibar, and the British issued an ultimatum to the Zanzibari forces. The Zanzibari forces surrendered after just 38 minutes, making it the shortest war in history. The war was a British victory, and it marked the beginning of British colonial rule in Zanzibar.