Shortest Wars in History
The 11 shortest wars in recorded history, from the 38-minute Anglo-Zanzibar War of 1896 to the 10-week Falklands War of 1982. Britain's naval bombardment of Zanzibar remains the shortest conflict ever recorded.
Data
| # | War | Year | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anglo-Zanzibar War | 1896 | 38 minutes |
| 2 | Football War | 1969 | ~100 hours (4 days) |
| 3 | Six-Day War | 1967 | 6 days |
| 4 | Indo-Pakistani War | 1971 | 14 days |
| 5 | Serbo-Bulgarian War | 1885 | 15 days |
| 6 | Georgian-Armenian War | 1918 | 25 days |
| 7 | Sino-Vietnamese War | 1979 | 27 days |
| 8 | Greco-Turkish War | 1897 | 34 days |
| 9 | Polish-Lithuanian War | 1920 | 37 days |
| 10 | Second Balkan War | 1913 | 43 days |
| 11 | Falklands War | 1982 | 10 weeks (70 days) |
Note: The Shortest Wars Ever Fought
The Record Holder: 38 Minutes
The Anglo-Zanzibar War of 1896 is the shortest war in recorded history, lasting just 38 minutes. After the death of the Sultan of Zanzibar, Britain backed a different candidate than the one who seized the palace, and when he refused to stand down, British warships bombarded the palace until his forces surrendered. The outcome was decided almost before the residents of Zanzibar Town knew a war had begun.
The Football War's Misleading Name
The Football War of 1969 between El Salvador and Honduras lasted about 100 hours, or roughly four days, and ranks among the shortest conflicts ever recorded. Its nickname comes from the World Cup qualifying matches played between the two nations in the weeks before, but the real triggers were deeper: land disputes, the migration of Salvadoran workers, and border tensions. Fighting ended after a ceasefire brokered by the Organization of American States.
Wars Measured in Days
The Six-Day War of 1967 is the most famous short war on the list: Israel defeated Egypt, Jordan, and Syria in six days, reshaping the Middle East's borders. The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 lasted 14 days and ended with the creation of Bangladesh. The Serbo-Bulgarian War of 1885 finished in 15 days, the Georgian-Armenian War of 1918 in 25, and the Sino-Vietnamese War of 1979 in 27, a border conflict in which both sides claimed victory.
Just Over a Month
- The Greco-Turkish War of 1897 lasted 34 days and ended with Thessaly awarded to Greece after European mediation.
- The Polish-Lithuanian War of 1920 ran 37 days during the chaotic aftermath of World War I.
- The Second Balkan War of 1913 took 43 days, ending with Bulgaria defeated by its former allies.
- The Falklands War of 1982 rounds out the list at 10 weeks, or about 70 days.
Why Some Wars End So Fast
Overwhelming force usually decides matters quickly. In several cases a far stronger military settled the question in days, as Britain did in Zanzibar and Israel did in 1967. In others, outside powers pressed the combatants to stop, as in the Football War, while collapsing alliances and exhaustion ended fighting in the Balkan and Polish-Lithuanian cases before it could drag on.
Fun Facts
- The Anglo-Zanzibar War's 38 minutes makes it the shortest war ever recorded.
- Britain fought both the shortest war on the list (Zanzibar, 1896) and the longest (Falklands, 1982).
- The Football War is named for World Cup qualifiers, but land and migration were the real causes.
- The Six-Day War redrew three borders in less than a week.
- The 14-day Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 ended with the creation of Bangladesh.
- The Falklands campaign was fought roughly 8,000 miles from Britain, the longest supply line of any war here.
- The Anglo-Zanzibar War ended before the Sultan's forces could mount a proper defense, with the outcome settled by naval gunfire in under an hour.
