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 conflict was sparked by a dispute over who should be the ruler of Zanzibar, and the British issued an ultimatum that was rejected by the Zanzibari forces. When the Zanzibari troops failed to respond to the ultimatum, the British launched a naval attack that lasted just 38 minutes, resulting in the defeat of Zanzibar and the installation of a new ruler.