The shortest war in recorded history lasted about 38 minutes

On 27 August 1896, Britain and Zanzibar went to war over succession to the sultanate. British ships began shelling the palace at 9:02am; the sultan's forces surrendered by around 9:40am. It remains the shortest war ever documented, start to surrender in under three-quarters of an hour.

— Standard historical accounts, The Anglo-Zanzibar War — 27 August 1896