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 that was ignored. Zanzibar surrendered after just 38 minutes of fighting, leading to the signing of a peace treaty. This brief conflict is still recognized by Guinness World Records as the shortest war in history.