The Most One-Sided War in History | Countryballs Animation

The shortest war in history lasted only 38 minutes. See how a diplomatic standoff between Britain and Zanzibar ended in total palace destruction. In 1896, the death of a Sultan triggered a rapid succession crisis. When his nephew Khalid took the throne without the required British approval, it led to the Anglo-Zanzibar War. This animation breaks down the absurdity of the conflict, showing how quickly regional power dynamics shifted when the British navy decided to bombard the palace into submission. It is a look at the history of the shortest war, focusing on how a simple failure to follow colonial agreements resulted in such a lopsided military engagement. If you enjoy seeing bizarre historical events play out on the map, this video captures the chaos perfectly. Subscribe for weekly historical humor breakdowns, and let me know in the comments which obscure conflict I should cover next.