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, holds the record for the shortest war in recorded history. Zanzibar surrendered after just 38 minutes, with the British launching a surprise attack on the island nation's capital, Stone Town. The war was sparked by a dispute over who should be the ruler of Zanzibar, and the British ultimatum was ignored by the Zanzibari sultan.