World's shortest war

The Anglo-Zanzibar War of August 27, 1896, stands as the shortest recorded conflict in history, lasting a mere 38 to 45 minutes. Its origins lie in the suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of Sultan Hamad bin Thuwaini and the subsequent contested ascension of Sultan Khalid bin Barghash. With the British favoring Hamoud bin Mohammed, tensions escalated as Khalid defied British authority.

At 09:00 local time on the fateful day, the British issued an ultimatum to Khalid, demanding his surrender and compliance with established agreements. In response, the British assembled a formidable force consisting of cruisers, gunboats, marines, and Zanzibari allies. As the ultimatum expired, hostilities erupted with a swift bombardment of the palace at 09:02, quickly overwhelming the defending forces.

Despite Khalid seeking asylum in the German consulate and eventually fleeing to German East Africa, the conflict resulted in approximately 500 Zanzibari casualties, contrasting starkly with just one British injury. Sultan Hamoud was promptly installed as a puppet ruler by the British, signaling the end of Zanzibar's sovereignty and the onset of significant British influence over the region.

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