what was the shortest war in history?
The Anglo-Zanzibar War took place on August 27, 1896, between the British Empire and the East African island sultanate of Zanzibar. The war, which lasted no longer than 40 minutes, started because Zanzibari Prince Khālid ibn Barghash refused to accept the British-anointed successor. Instead, he occupied the Sultan's palace, which the British fired upon. After 40 minutes of being fired upon, Khālid lost 500 soldiers, while only one British soldier was seriously wounded.