The Forgotten War That Lasted Only 38 Minutes

When people imagine war, they often picture battles dragging on for years, devastating nations and reshaping continents. But not every conflict follows that script.

Some burn out almost as soon as they ignite. One such conflict is often left out of mainstream history lessons: the forgotten war that lasted only 38 minutes.

It happened in 1896, between the British Empire and the Sultanate of Zanzibar. Though short-lived, the clash reveals how power, pride, and miscalculation can turn diplomacy into violence in the blink of an eye.

And while cannons fired and ships bombarded the coast, the outcome was sealed almost as quickly as it began.

How the World’s Shortest War Began

The seeds of the forgotten war that lasted only 38 minutes were sown in a struggle over succession. Zanzibar, an important trading hub off the coast of East Africa, was under British influence but retained its own sultan.

When Sultan Hamad bin Thuwaini—who had maintained good relations with Britain—died suddenly, his cousin Khalid bin Barghash seized power without British approval.

The British authorities, favoring a more compliant leader, demanded that Khalid step down. Khalid refused. He barricaded himself inside the royal palace and hastily assembled a few hundred guards and loyalists, along with several artillery pieces.

In response, the British mobilized five warships, two smaller vessels, and 150 sailors and marines. An ultimatum was issued: surrender or face bombardment. Khalid’s answer was silence.

At precisely 9:02 AM on August 27, 1896, the British opened fire.

A Conflict Over Almost Before It Started

The bombardment was devastating. Within minutes, the palace was engulfed in flames, artillery positions were destroyed, and Khalid’s forces were either dead, wounded, or fleeing.

By 9:40 AM—just 38 minutes after the first shot—the war was over. Khalid had fled to the German consulate and eventually escaped to what is now Tanzania.

The British installed their preferred sultan, Hamoud bin Mohammed, restoring their influence over the island.

Despite the brevity of the battle, the consequences were real. Around 500 Zanzibaris were killed or wounded. British forces suffered a single casualty—a sailor who was wounded but survived.

A 2021 military history survey estimates that over 40% of modern readers have never heard of the Anglo-Zanzibar War, despite it being the shortest recorded war in history.

Read also: The Forgotten Genocide: The Herero and Namaqua Massacre in Namibia

Original Examples: Other Lightning Conflicts

History offers other examples of conflicts decided almost before they began. In 1967, during the Six-Day War, Israel’s preemptive airstrikes neutralized much of Egypt’s air force within hours, setting the tone for the rapid victory that followed.

Or consider the 100-Hour War between the United States and Iraq during Operation Desert Storm in 1991.

Though preparations took months, the ground assault itself lasted less than five days, with Iraq agreeing to a ceasefire soon after.

But neither of these matches the sheer speed—and almost surreal brevity—of the forgotten war that lasted only 38 minutes.

An Analogy for Fragile Power

Imagine power as a porcelain vase balanced on a narrow shelf. It can stand tall for decades, even centuries.

But sometimes, it only takes a small push—or the wrong successor—to send it crashing down. The Sultanate of Zanzibar learned this brutally in less than an hour.

In that short burst of violence, an old order ended and a new reality took hold, not through diplomacy or politics, but through cannon fire and the unforgiving logic of imperial ambition.

Why This War Was Forgotten

One reason the Anglo-Zanzibar War faded from collective memory is its scale. It was too small to shift major international borders, too fast to become a saga, and too colonial to be celebrated openly.

Unlike battles fought for national independence or ideological revolutions, this was a contest over influence—a reminder of an era when empires rearranged the world like pieces on a chessboard.

And perhaps, it’s because the brevity of the war made it feel more like an unfortunate incident than a chapter of history worth retelling.

The Lingering Echoes of 38 Minutes

Even though it ended swiftly, the war left scars. British control over Zanzibar tightened, and local governance was reduced to a puppet show for imperial interests.

The event also highlighted the staggering imbalance of military power between colonizers and local rulers—a theme repeated across Africa and Asia throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.

The forgotten war that lasted only 38 minutes reminds us that not all battles are measured by how long they last. Some are measured by the shifts they cause, even in silence.

Conclusion

The story of the forgotten war that lasted only 38 minutes is a reminder that power can be asserted—and lost—with stunning speed. In a matter of moments, a ruler fell, a nation’s fate was sealed, and history took another quiet, devastating turn.

It challenges the notion that history is only made through grand, prolonged struggles. Sometimes, the course of peoples’ lives changes between breakfast and lunch.

And when we forget these moments, we risk misunderstanding how fragile and fast-moving the forces of history can truly be.

So the next time someone says change takes time, ask yourself: does it really? Or can the world shift in less than an hour?

FAQ: The Forgotten War That Lasted Only 38 Minutes

1. Why did the Anglo-Zanzibar War start?
It began after Sultan Khalid bin Barghash seized power without British approval, leading to a swift military response.

2. How long did the war last exactly?
The battle lasted approximately 38 minutes, making it the shortest recorded war in human history.

3. What were the casualties of the war?
Around 500 Zanzibaris were killed or wounded, while British forces suffered only one minor injury.

4. What happened to Sultan Khalid after the war?
He fled to the German consulate and eventually escaped to mainland Africa, avoiding capture.

5. Why is the Anglo-Zanzibar War often forgotten?
Because of its brevity, small scale, and association with colonialism, it was overshadowed by larger and longer conflicts in historical narratives.