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 history. Zanzibar surrendered after just 38 minutes, after the British launched a naval attack on the island nation's harbor. The war was sparked by a dispute over who should be the ruler of Zanzibar, and the British ultimately emerged victorious with minimal casualties. This bizarre and brief conflict has been documented by historians and is widely recognized as the shortest war in recorded history.