The shortest war in history asserted the dominance of a colonial power over a subjugated land.
Wikimedia CommonsThe sultan ’s castle in Zanzibar , following its wipeout during the Anglo - Zanzibar War in 1896 .
The Anglo - Zanzibar War of 1896 lasted all of 38 minutes in what would be the shortest war in history .
The war prove that the British were the net federal agency in Zanzibar ’s social occasion with a display of might and exponent that overwhelmed Zanzibari force play . It really was n’t a war because Zanzibar had no fortune to win .
Wikimedia CommonsThe sultan’s palace in Zanzibar, following its destruction during the Anglo-Zanzibar War in 1896.
The Background Of History’s Shortest War
In 1896 , European countries had colonies in Africa to tap the lifelike resources of the continent . France , Great Britain and Germany command the political landscape painting in Africa . at times , African nations disgust against their colonial masters . It was n’t until after World War II that many African nations gained independency from European overlord .
The Anglo - Zanzibar War was part of this colonial struggle . Pro - British sultan Hamad bin Thuwaini snuff it on Aug. 25 , 1896 , after just three years in power . His cousin , Khalid bin Barghash , seized the throne .
There were rumors that the new grand Turk poison the honest-to-god one , probably because Khalid did n’t harmonize with British colonial rule . He wanted his country to be sovereign in order could profit from the moneymaking slave trade that still existed in Africa at the time . The British sought to get rid of the slave trade altogether , and that insurance contravene with Khalid ’s interests .
Wikimedia CommonsThe Glasgow, a wooden sailing yacht that was no match for superior British Navy ships. Pictured in 1890.
The British government need Hamoud bin Muhammad in place as sultan and give Khalid until 9 AM local fourth dimension on August 27 , 1896 , to cede the toilet to the pro - British successor .
Khalid thought the British were bluff . He surrounded the royal palace with his sentry go and artillery . Five British Royal Navy ship – some of the best in the world – fence in the harbour closest to the castle . Royal Marines and navy man landed on shore to await orders from Rear Adm. Harry Rawson , the commanding police officer of the booking .
The Anglo-Zanzibar War
At precisely 9 a.m. , when Khalid refuse to renounce , the British bombardment began . gun for hire from the ship fired at the sultan ’s palace . The wooden structure did n’t place upright a fortune against the British barrage fire .
Wikimedia CommonsThe Glasgow , a wooden sailplaning racing yacht that was no lucifer for superior British Navy ship . Pictured in 1890 .
Khalid ’s lone ship in his USN , the Glasgow , was a luxury yacht turn over to him by Queen Victoria . It was not primed for fight , and specially not capable of taking on the vastly superior Royal Navy . The five Royal Navy ship , led by the HMS St. George under Rawson ’s command , laid waste to the Glasgow and deliver its crew .
Wikimedia CommonsBritish Marines standing near a damaged cannon near the Zanzibar sultan’s palace in 1896 following the Anglo-Zanzibar War.
After a bare 38 minutes , Khalid ’s troops fled the scene . The light war in the account of the world was over .
Khalid and his faithful circle ended up in the nearby German consulate and request asylum . Britain in conclusion seize Khalid during World War I , and that was when he predict to live in exile and renounce his call to the sultanate .
As for casualties , British and pro - British Zanzibari forces lost one man out of a fighting violence of 1,000 . The pro - Khalid forces had 500 idle out of 3,000 . Despite being outnumber 3 - to-1 in manpower , the British force were too well fitted out and were more dangerous than Khalid see .
Wikimedia CommonsBritish Marines standing near a damage cannon near the Zanzibar sultan ’s castle in 1896 follow the Anglo - Zanzibar War .
Shortly after British force took command , they had their man in ability . Britain outlawed slavery in Zanzibar a year later .
Britain ’s keep on Zanzibar remained for another 67 yr , even surviving through World War I and World War II . The protectorate status Britain wielded over Zanzibar was terminated in 1963 . The next twelvemonth Zanzibar merged with the Republic of Tanganyika . Soon after , the country was renamed Tanzania .
After reading about history ’s shortest state of war , view these haunting photos of theBoer War genocide . Then read about thebloody chronicle of decapitation .
