The 38-Minute War
The story of the Anglo-Zanzibar War, the shortest recorded war in human history, and the brutal invoice that followed.
About this video
The story of the Anglo-Zanzibar War, the shortest recorded war in human history, and the brutal invoice that followed.
Full transcript of The 38-Minute War
The shortest war in human history was over before you could finish a cup of coffee. August 1896. A rogue Sultan seizes the throne of Zanzibar. The British Empire, wanting a puppet ruler, gives a strict ultimatum: step down by 9 AM, or face the Royal Navy. The Sultan scoffs, barricading himself inside his grand wooden palace with three thousand guards. He aims an outdated brass cannon right at the heavily armed British fleet. 9:00 AM arrives. The deadline passes in dead silence. At 9:02 AM, three British cruisers open fire. The bombardment is absolute devastation. The palace is instantly reduced to splintered wood and fire. By 9:40 AM, the Sultan's flag is shot down. The war is over. Total duration: exactly thirty-eight minutes. But here is the ultimate historical insult. The Sultan secretly escaped, abandoning his loyal men to the flames. And the victorious British? They sent a bill to the new government... ...forcing them to pay for the exact artillery shells used to destroy their own palace.