Ever wonder what happens when a global superpower gets fed up in a hurry? Meet the Anglo-Zanzibar War, a conflict so brief it barely registers as a blip on history’s radar. On August 27, 1896, the British Empire and the Sultanate of Zanzibar squared off in what remains the shortest war ever recorded. Its total duration? A stunning 38 minutes.

The drama began when pro-British Sultan Hamad bin Thuwaini died unexpectedly, and his cousin, Khalid bin Barghash, seized the throne. The British, who had a treaty stipulating their approval for any new sultan, weren’t amused. They issued an ultimatum: Khalid had to step down by 9 AM, or face the consequences. Khalid, defiant, mobilized his palace guard and even prepared the Sultan’s armed yacht.

At precisely 9:02 AM, British warships opened fire on the palace. The Zanzibari navy, comprising a single armed yacht, was swiftly sunk. Khalid’s forces, numbering around 2,800, were no match for the Royal Navy’s might. By 9:40 AM, the palace flag was down, and a swift ceasefire was called.

The outcome? A decisive British victory, roughly 500 Zanzibari casualties, one British sailor injured, and Khalid fleeing for his life. A new, pro-British sultan was installed that very day. When the history books say ‘blitzkrieg,’ they clearly hadn’t seen Zanzibar.