In the nineteenth century southeastern Africa on the shores Indian Ocean ruled by the dynasty of the Omani Sultanate. This small state flourished due to the active trade in ivory, spices and slaves. In order to ensure an uninterrupted sales market, it was necessary to cooperate with the European powers. Historically, England, which previously dominated the sea and colonized Africa, began to exert a permanent strong influence on the policy of the Oman Sultanate. At the direction of the British ambassador, the Zanzibar Sultanate separates from Oman and becomes independent, although legally this state was not under the protectorate of Great Britain. It is unlikely that this small country was mentioned in the pages of textbooks, if the military conflict that took place on its territory had not entered the annals of history as the shortest war in the world.
Political situation before the war
In the eighteenth century, a keen interest in the rich African lands began. different countries... Germany also did not stand aside and bought land in East Africa. But she needed access to the sea. Therefore, the Germans entered into an agreement on the lease of the coastal part of the Zanzibar Sultanate with the ruler Hamad ibn Tuwayni. At the same time, the Sultan did not want to lose the favor of the British. When the interests of England and Germany began to overlap, the incumbent sultan died suddenly. He had no direct heirs, and his cousin Khalid ibn Bargash declared his rights to the throne.
He quickly orchestrated a coup d'état and assumed the title of Sultan. The speed and coherence of actions with which all the necessary movements and formalities were carried out, as well as sudden death from unknown reasons Hamad ibn Tuwayni suggests that there was a successful assassination attempt on the Sultan. Khalid ibn Bargash was supported by Germany. However, it was not in British rules that it was so easy to lose territory. Even if officially they did not belong to her. The British ambassador demanded that Khalid ibn Bargash abdicate in favor of Hamud bin Muhammad, another cousin of the deceased sultan. However, confident in his strength and support from Germany, Khalid ibn Bargash refused to do so.
Ultimatum
Hamad ibn Tuwayni died on 25 August. Already on August 26, without postponing matters indefinitely, the British demanded to replace the sultan. Great Britain not only refused to recognize the coup d'etat, it was not even going to allow it. The conditions were set in a harsh form: by 9 a.m. the next day (August 27), the flag flying over the Sultan's palace was to be lowered, the army was disarmed and government powers transferred. Otherwise, the Anglo-Zanzibar war was officially unleashed.
The next day, an hour before the announced time, a representative of the Sultan arrived at the British Embassy. He requested a meeting with Ambassador Basil Cave. The ambassador declined the meeting, saying that until all British demands are met, there can be no talk of any negotiations.
Military forces of the parties
By this time, Khalid ibn Bargash already had an army of 2,800 soldiers. In addition, he armed several hundred slaves to guard the Sultan's palace, ordered to alert both 12-pounder cannons and the Gatling gun (a kind of rather primitive machine gun on a stand with large wheels). The Zanzibar army was also armed with several machine guns, 2 launch boats and the Glasgow yacht.
On the British side there were 900 soldiers, 150 marines, three small warships used for battles near the coast, and two cruisers equipped with artillery pieces.
Realizing the superiority of the enemy's firepower, Khalid ibn Bargash was still confident that the British would not dare to start hostilities. History is silent about what the German representative promised the new sultan, but further actions show that Khalid ibn Bargash was completely confident in his support.
The beginning of hostilities
British ships began to take up combat positions. They surrounded the only defensive Zanzibar yacht, separating it from the foreshore. On one side, at a target hitting distance, there was a yacht, on the other - the Sultan's palace. The hours were counting down last minutes before the appointed time. At exactly 9 am the shortest war in the world began. The trained gunners easily shot down the Zanzibar cannon and proceeded to methodically fire at the palace.
In response, Glasgow opened fire on the British cruiser. But the light boat did not have the slightest chance of confronting this war mastodon, bristling with weapons. The first volley sent the yacht to the bottom. The Zanzibarians quickly lowered their flag, and the British sailors rushed in lifeboats to pick up their hapless opponents, saving them from certain death.
Surrender
But on the palace flagpole, the flag was still flying. Because there was no one to let him down. The sultan, who did not receive support, was among the first to leave. His self-made army also did not differ in particular zeal for victory. Moreover, the high-explosive shells from the ships mowed people down like a ripe crop. Wooden buildings caught fire, panic and horror reigned everywhere. And the shelling did not stop.
According to martial law, a raised flag signals a refusal to surrender. Therefore, the Sultan's palace, which was practically destroyed to the ground, continued to be poured with fire. Finally, one of the shells hit the flagpole and knocked it down. At the same moment, Admiral Rawlings ordered a ceasefire.
How long did the war between Zanzibar and Britain last?
The first volley was fired at 9 am. The ceasefire was ordered at 9:38 am. After that, the British landing quickly occupied the ruins of the palace, without encountering any resistance. Thus, the world lasted only thirty-eight minutes. However, this did not make her the most sparing. In a few tens of minutes, 570 people died. All from the Zanzibar side. Among the British, one officer from the gunboat Drozd was wounded. Also during this short campaign, the Zanzibar Sultanate lost its entire small fleet, consisting of one yacht and two longboats.
Rescue of the disgraced sultan
Khalid ibn Bargash, who fled at the very beginning of hostilities, received asylum at the German embassy. The new sultan immediately issued a decree to arrest him, and British soldiers set up a round-the-clock watch at the embassy gates. So a month passed. The British were not going to lift their original siege. And the Germans had to resort to a cunning trick to take their henchman out of the country.
A boat was removed from the German cruiser Orlan, which had arrived at the Zanzibar port, and the sailors carried it on their shoulders to the embassy. There, they put Khalid ibn Bargash into a boat and in the same way ferried him aboard the Orlan. International laws stipulated that boats, along with a ship, are legally considered the territory of the country to which the ship belongs.
Results of the war
The result of the 1896 war between England and Zanzibar was not only an unprecedented defeat of the latter, but also the actual deprivation of even that bit of independence that the Sultanate had earlier. Thus, the shortest war in the world had far-reaching consequences. The British protege Hamud ibn Muhammad, until his death, unquestioningly carried out all the orders of the British ambassador, and his successors behaved in the same way for the next seven decades.
The shortest war recorded in the Guinness Book of Records took place on August 27, 1896 between Great Britain and the Sultanate of Zanzibar. The Anglo-Zanzibar War lasted ... 38 minutes!
And this story began after Sultan Hamad ibn Tuwayni, who actively collaborated with the British colonial administration, died on August 25, 1896. There is a version that he was poisoned cousin Khalid ibn Bargash. As you know, a holy place is never empty. The sultan was not a saint, but his place was not empty for a long time.
Hamad ibn Tuwayni
After the death of the Sultan, his cousin Khalid ibn Bargash, who enjoyed the support of Germany, seized power in a coup. But this did not suit the British, who supported the candidacy of Hamud bin Mohammed. The British demanded that Khalid ibn Bargash give up his claims to the throne of the Sultan.
Hamud ibn Muhammad ibn Said
Yeah, schazzz! The daring and harsh Khalid ibn Bargash refused to obey British demands and quickly assembled an army of about 2,800, which began to prepare the defense of the Sultan's palace.
Khalid ibn Bargash
On August 26, 1896, the British side issued an ultimatum, which expired on August 27 at 9:00 am, according to which the Zanzibari were to lay down their arms and lower the flag.
Armored cruiser 1st class "St. George" (HMS "St George")
Armored cruiser 2nd class "Philomel" (HMS "Philomel")
Gunboat "Drozd"
Gunboat "Sparrow" (HMS "Sparrow")
Armored cruiser 3rd class "Racoon" (HMS "Racoon")
The British squadron consisting of the 1st class armored cruiser St. George, the 3rd class armored cruiser Philomel, the Drozd and Sparrow gunboats and the Raccoon torpedo-gunboat lined up in the roadstead, surrounding the only military "ship of the Zanzibar fleet - the Sultan's yacht" Glasgow "built in Great Britain, armed with a Gatling gun and small-caliber 9-pounder guns.
"Glasgow"
The Sultan clearly had no idea what destruction the guns of the British fleet could produce. Therefore, he reacted inadequately. The Zanzibarians pointed all their coastal guns at the British ships (a 17th century bronze cannon, several Maxim machine guns and two 12-pounder guns donated by the German Kaiser).
On August 27 at 8:00 am, the Sultan's envoy asked for a meeting with Basil Cave, the British representative in Zanzibar. Cave replied that the meeting could only be arranged if the Zanzibari agreed to the terms. In response, at 8:30, Khalid ibn Bargash sent a message with the next envoy informing him that he did not intend to yield and did not believe that the British would allow themselves to open fire.
Cave replied: "We do not want to open fire, but if you do not fulfill our conditions, we will."
Exactly at the time appointed by the ultimatum, at 9:00, light British ships opened fire on the Sultan's palace. The very first shot of the gunboat "Drozd" hit the Zanzibar 12-pounder cannon, knocking it off the carriage. The Zanzibar troops on the coast (more than 3,000 men, including palace servants and slaves) were concentrated in wooden buildings, and British high-explosive shells produced a terrible destructive effect.
Five minutes later, at 9:05 am, the only Zanzibar ship, Glasgow, responded by firing at the British cruiser St. George with its small-caliber guns. The British cruiser immediately opened fire almost point-blank with her heavy guns, instantly sinking her adversary. The Zanzibar sailors immediately lowered the flag and were soon rescued by British sailors in boats.
Only in 1912 divers blew up the hull of the flooded "Glasgow". The pieces of wood were taken out to sea, and the cauldron, Steam engine and the guns were sold for scrap. Debris from the underwater part of the ship, a steam engine, a propeller shaft remained at the bottom, and they still serve as an object of divers' attention.
Zanzibar harbor. The masts of the sunken "Glasgow"
Some time after the start of the bombing palace complex was a blazing ruin and was abandoned both by the troops and by the sultan himself, who fled among the first. However, the Zanzibar flag continued to fly on the palace flagpole simply because there was no one to remove it. Considering this as an intention to continue resistance, the British fleet resumed firing. Soon one of the shells hit the palace flagpole and knocked down the flag. The commander of the British flotilla, Admiral Rawlings, interpreted this as a sign of surrender and ordered a ceasefire and the landing of troops, which occupied the ruins of the palace with practically no resistance.
Sultan's Palace after shelling
In total, the British fired about 500 rounds, 4,100 machine-gun and 1,000 rifle rounds during this short campaign.
British Marines pose in front of a captured cannon after the occupation of the Sultan's Palace in Zanzibar
The shelling lasted 38 minutes, about 570 people were killed on the Zanzibar side, while on the British side, one junior officer on the Drozda was slightly wounded. Thus, this conflict went down in history as the shortest war.
Sultan Khalid ibn Bargash, who fled from the palace, took refuge in the German embassy. Of course, the new government of Zanzibar, immediately formed by the British, immediately approved his arrest. Squad Royal Marine Corps continuously on duty at the embassy fence in order to arrest the former sultan at the moment when he leaves the embassy territory. Therefore, the Germans went to the trick to evacuate their former protégé. On October 2, 1896, the German cruiser "Orlan" (Seeadler) entered the port.
Eagle (Seeadler)
The boat from the cruiser was delivered to the shore, then on the shoulders of the German sailors was brought to the door of the embassy, where Khalid ibn Bargash was accommodated in it. After that, the boat was carried to the sea in the same way and delivered to the cruiser. According to the legal norms in force at that time, the boat was considered part of the ship to which it was assigned and, regardless of its location, was extraterritorial. Thus, the former sultan who was in the boat was formally permanently on German territory. So the Germans saved their loser protégé. After the war, the former sultan lived in Dar es Salaam until 1916, when the British finally captured him. He died in 1927 in Mombasa.
Epilogue
At the insistence of the British side in 1897, Sultan Hamud ibn Muhammad ibn Said banned slavery in Zanzibar and freed all slaves, for which in 1898 he was knighted by Queen Victoria.
What is the moral of this story? There are different points of view. On the one hand, it can be seen as a hopeless attempt by Zanzibar to defend its independence from the aggression of the ruthless colonial empire. On the other hand, it is illustrative example of how the stupidity, stubbornness and lust for power of the would-be sultan, who wanted to stay on the throne at any cost, even in an initially hopeless situation, killed half a thousand people.
Many regarded this story as a comic: they say, the "war" lasted only 38 minutes.
The outcome was clear in advance. The British were clearly superior to the Zanzibari. So the losses were predetermined.
It is curious to compare it with the situation in the summer of 1941 on the western borders of the USSR: the defending side was not inferior to the enemy either in numbers or in weapons, and significantly surpassed him in the means of delivering a powerful counterattack - tanks and aviation, and even had the opportunity to build its defense on the system powerful natural barriers and long-term defensive structures. And while the Red Army suffered a crushing and shameful defeat, by the end of September 1941 the Red Army had lost 15.5 thousand tanks. The losses of the Panzer divisions of the Wehrmacht by September 5-6 were: 285 light Pz-II, 471 Czech Pz-35/38 (t), 639 medium Pz-III and 256 "heavy" Pz-IV. A total of 1,651 tanks, including both irrevocably decommissioned vehicles and those tanks that were being repaired. But even with such a not entirely correct comparison, the aspect ratio is 1 to 9. The calculation, carried out taking into account only irrecoverable losses, almost doubles this proportion.
So maybe you shouldn't laugh at the Zanzibar Sultan, despite the fact that he lost the war in 38 minutes?
Palace after the bombing
Palace and lighthouse after shelling
Sources:
In the 19th century, the Sultanate of Oman ruled on the coast of the Indian Ocean, which washes the southeast of the African continent. It owes its prosperity to the trade in various spices, ivory and slaves. They used the European continent as a market for their goods. However, the sultan himself who ruled the state was not independent in his actions, since Great Britain, which colonized Africa, had a huge influence on him. It is because of this that the shortest war in the world took place here. Indeed, once the British ambassador by his decree separated the Zanzibar Sultanate from Oman.
The situation on the eve of the war
In the 18th century, many people became interested in African lands. European countries... Among them was Germany, which bought part of the land in the east of the continent. However, to access them, they needed access to the sea. For this, the ruler of Germany entered into an agreement with the Sultan Hamad ibn Tuwayni that the Germans would rent from him a small area of the Zanzibar Sultanate, which is directly adjacent to the sea.
However, this could mean a deterioration in relations with Great Britain, and this was unprofitable for the Sultan. But still, in these places, the interests of two European states crossed, and the sultan himself no clear reason died suddenly. Since he had no children, his cousin Khalid ibn Bargash presented his rights to the throne.
In order to achieve his goal, Khalid organizes a coup d'état, taking on the duties of a ruler. Since it all happened to the maximum short time, and also that, because the cause of the Sultan's death was never revealed, there was an assumption of a successful attempt on his life.
Germany immediately expressed its support for Ibn Bargash. But Great Britain was not used to losing its possessions so easily, even though it never had any legal rights to them. Therefore, the British Ambassador ordered Ibn Bargash to renounce the throne and hand over the rule of the Sultanate to his brother Hamud bin Muhammad. But Ibn Bargash was so confident in the support of the Germans that he flatly refused to obey the British.
Ultimatum
The events of those days developed extremely rapidly. On August 25, Hamad ibn Tuvani dies under unclear circumstances. And the very next day, the British ambassador demands to change the sultan. The British refused to recognize the coup as accomplished and, accordingly, did not recognize the new ruler of the sultanate, Khalid ibn Bargash. So they gave him an ultimatum.
From the new sultan, the British demanded until the morning of August 27 to completely disarm their army, to lower the flag over the palace and to completely transfer control of the sultanate to a confidant of Great Britain. Otherwise, they declare war on Zanzibar.
On the morning of August 27, an hour before the time of the ultimatum expired, a representative of the new Sultan came to the British ambassador. He asked for an opportunity to meet with Basil Cave, who at that time was the ambassador. However, he refused to negotiate, saying that they are possible only if all the requirements of his country are met.
Military forces
At the time of the end of the ultimatum, Ibn Bargash had an army of 2,800 soldiers. In addition, he issued weapons to several hundred of his slaves, ordering them to guard his palace. Also in full combat readiness were given 2 cannons and a semblance of a machine gun - the Gatling gun. In addition, they were armed with 2 launches, a couple of machine guns and a yacht.
On the side of Great Britain there were about 900 soldiers, several hundred marines, as well as 3 ships and 2 cruisers with an artillery gun on board.
Ibn Bargash was well aware of the superiority of his enemy, however, he believed that they would not dare to start military operations against his army. In addition, he believed that Germany would provide him with any assistance in this situation.
The beginning of the war
Early in the morning the ships of the British fleet took up their positions. First of all, they surrounded the only yacht of the Sultan, completely blocking her path to the shore. They lined up in such a way that, on the one hand, they had this yacht, and on the other, the Sultan's palace. And before the time set by the British, only a few minutes remained. At 9 o'clock in the morning local time, the war began, which went down in history as the shortest.
The gunners, who were specially trained, with just one shot were able to neutralize the Sultan's only cannon, after which they began shelling the palace itself. At the same time, return fire on the cruiser was opened from the yacht.
However, it was rather a step of despair, since the small ship did not have a single chance. Literally one volley was enough for the yacht to sink. The flag on the yacht was lowered and the British sailors began to pick up the drowning opponents.
Surrender
But on the palace itself, despite its shelling, the flag continued to develop. And the thing is that there was simply no one to let him down. It turned out that the sultan, without waiting for any support, was the very first to leave the palace. The soldiers of his army also did not seek to "win at any cost", especially after seeing the British weapons in action.
The wooden structures located around the palace instantly flared up, and panic began all around. At the same time, the shelling of the palace continued. Indeed, according to all military laws, a raised flag means only one thing - a complete refusal to surrender. Even when little was left of the palace, the British military did not stop firing at it methodically.
This continued until one of the shells hit straight into the place where the flagpole was, which could not stand it and collapsed. This was the signal for the end of firing.
Duration of hostilities
How long did this war last? It began with the first salvo at exactly 9 o'clock in the morning. And the order to cease fire came from Admiral Rawlings at 09:38. Immediately after this, the paratroopers occupied what was left of the Sultan's palace. At the same time, no one was even going to resist them.
Thus, all hostilities took them about 38 minutes. But even in spite of such a short time, more than 500 people died here, and they were all on the Zanzibar side. In addition, the loss of the Sultan is the entire already small fleet.
Sultan's salvation
What happened to Ibn Bargash himself? It turns out that immediately after his escape, he went to the German embassy, where he was granted asylum. The British, however, immediately appointed a new sultan in his place, who first of all issued a decree on the arrest of his predecessor. Therefore, the British established surveillance of the embassy in which the fugitive was staying.
Time passed, and the British did not even think about lifting the siege. Therefore, the Germans were forced to use cunning in order to take away their protege from the country. For this, the boat was removed from the German cruiser and delivered to the embassy. And on it Ibn Bargash was taken to the ship. After all, according to international law boats are legally the property and territory of the country that owns the ship from where it was taken.
Results of the war
So, in 1896, the Zanzibar army was not only defeated, but also lost its independence for many years. The sultan appointed by the British, as well as his followers, for many decades were forced to unquestioningly fulfill all the requirements of the British ambassador.
Record-breaking wars in history
Stories are known and others short wars which lasted from several hours to several weeks:
- ... It only lasted 18 days. This war known as the confrontation between Israel and a coalition of several Arab countries... The purpose of the conflict was to return lands that are still young state Israel took over in 1967. For Israel itself, such an invasion came as a real surprise, since its beginning coincided with a holy holiday for the Jews.
- ... The reason, as in most cases, was the disputed territories, which were annexed by Bulgaria. The war lasted exactly 2 weeks.
- Indo-Pakistani war was only 1 day less... At that time, Pakistan was already underway Civil War between the inhabitants of the two regions of the country, due to the desire of the inhabitants of East Pakistan to be independent. India intervened in the conflict, into whose territory huge crowds of refugees flooded from the war-torn regions. As a result, East Pakistan nevertheless became an independent state.
- The Six Day War has become one of the confrontations between Israel and the Arab coalition... In 6 days, Israel managed to completely occupy the Sinai Peninsula, Gaza, Samaria, Judea, partly Jerusalem and other territories.
- ... 6-day war between the countries of Honduras and El Salvador. Its beginning was facilitated by the qualifying match in football, during which both countries contested their right to participate in the World Cup. The intensity of passion was fueled by long-standing disputes between neighbors over some territories. The match took place in the city of Tegucigalpa, on the streets of which riots began to take place. This led to the fact that on July 14, 1969, there was the first military conflict on the border between the two countries.
- ... Exactly the same - 6 days, and this war, which was also called "Christmas", lasted. The countries of Burkina Faso and Mali took part in the conflict. The reason was the claim of both countries to the Agasher strip, on the territory of which there were many gas fields.
- Egyptian-Libyan war lasted 4 days... They ended in nothing, since both states remained with their territories and principles.
- ... This operation was called "Flash of Rage". US military forces attacked a small island, explaining this by protecting its citizens and restoring order in the Caribbean, which the US was trying to control.
- ... Its duration was 36 hours. In history, the conflict is better known as the annexation of the island of Goa by India.
Video
The shortest war in world history lasted only 38 minutes. It was conducted between England and Zanzibar. This fact is registered in the Guinness Book of Records. The hostilities were the result of the confrontation between British troops and the Sultanate of Zanzibar (East Africa).
Causes of the conflict
The precedent arose in 1896, when in a state with exotic name Zanzibar ruler - sultan died. In those days, the sultanate was influenced by the British, who colonized the coast of East Africa.
Germany, which also wanted to gain control of this territory, bought part of the holdings inside the mainland. Then Zanzibar participated in the trade in spices and other valuable goods, so the Europeans sought to control these lands.
Departed to better world The sultan collaborated with the British, but his relative Khalid ibn Bargash (cousin) supported the German administration. Therefore, after the death of the Sultan, Khalid tried to take power into his own hands. He seized the throne and gathered an army of almost three thousand people to protect the palace.
The course of the war
The British demanded that the new sultan give up power. Khalid, meanwhile, began to prepare for the defense. British authorities concentrated their armed forces in the harbor in front of the Sultan's palace. They put a squadron of warships in the raid in the amount of five pieces against the only Zanzibar yacht.
Needless to say that warships While the British were well equipped, the Zanzibari yacht could hardly be called a warship.
At nine o'clock in the morning, in accordance with the terms of the ultimatum, the British opened fire on the palace. They were opposed by one bronze cannon, two small guns and several machine guns. The British easily defeated the impromptu army of the Sultan and made the guns of the Africans completely incapacitated.
The palace fell into ruins, and Khalid disgracefully fled with the few survivors. The shelling continued for 38 minutes and ended after one of the shots knocked down the Zanzibar flag. After that, the British admiral landed troops and occupied the palace.
Consequences of a short war
Khalid ibn Bargash applied for asylum at the German embassy. He was evacuated by the Germans to Tanzania, where he remained for the next 20 years. Then he was captured by the British and died a few years later.
V British history this incident is considered to be almost comical due to its short duration. However, for the Zanzibari, who lost about five hundred people in this war, the story is tragic.
The culture
Most of the wars that we are taught about in history lessons last for many years. We learn that these wars have had a great impact on the course of world history. They helped shape the life we live today.
However, this does not mean at all that the longer the war, the stronger its influence on the world. At first glance, it seems that this is so. However, the short and quick warriors also left an indelible mark on history and influenced the fate of millions of people. Let's try to look into the past and learn about the shortest wars in history.
1) Falklands War (1982)
This conflict broke out between Great Britain and Argentina and was associated with control over the Falkland Islands, located in the south. Atlantic Ocean... The war began on April 2, 1982, and on July 14 of the same year, Argentina had to surrender. The war lasted a total of 74 days. Among the British there were 257 killed. On the Argentine side, there were more losses: 649 Argentine sailors, soldiers and pilots were killed. There were civilian casualties, as a result of the conflict 3 civilians of the Falkland Islands were killed.
2) Polish-Lithuanian war (1920)
After the First World War, an armed conflict broke out between Poland and Lithuania. Historical records on the part of the countries participating in the war do not correspond to each other regarding the beginning and end of this short war, but it is reliably known that it did not last long. The conflict also concerned territorial possessions. Both sides wanted to control the Vilnius region. For several years after the war seemed to be over, the controversy over the area never ceased to subside.
3) Second Balkan War (1913)
During the First Balkan War Bulgaria, Serbia and Greece were allies. However, after its end, Bulgaria remained dissatisfied with the division of the territories. As a result, she unleashed the Second Balkan War, in which Bulgaria opposed Serbia and Greece. The conflict began on June 16, 1913 and ended on July 18 of the same year. Despite the short period of the war, there were many casualties from all sides involved in the war. The war ended with the signing of peace treaties, as a result of which Bulgaria lost many of the territories that it managed to capture during the First Balkan War.
4) Greco-Turkish War (1897)
The bone of contention in this conflict was the island of Crete, where the Greeks lived under the rule of the Ottoman Empire and no longer wanted to put up with this state of affairs. The inhabitants of Crete wanted to join Greece and revolted against the Turks. It was decided to give Crete the status of an autonomous province, but this did not suit the Greeks. The Greeks also wanted to revolt in Macedonia, but were ultimately defeated. The war took thousands of lives.
5) Sino-Vietnamese War (1979)
Also known as the Third Indochina War, the Sino-Vietnamese War lasted only 27 days. Although the armed conflict lasted less than a month, many soldiers from both sides died: 26,000 Chinese and 20,000 Vietnamese. There were also many losses from the outside local residents... The reason for this war was the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia to weaken the influence of the communist movement in the country. "Khmer Rouge"... This movement received support from China, so the Chinese turned their weapons against the Vietnamese. Both countries are confident that they have won it.
6) Armenian-Georgian war (1918)
Ottoman troops occupied areas along the borders of Georgia and Armenia during the First World War. When they left, these countries entered into conflict over the ownership of certain territories. This conflict lasted only 24 days. With the help of Britain, they managed to settle it. Both sides managed the borders together until 1920. It was in that year that Armenia became part of the USSR. The war broke out on December 3, 1918, and ended right before the New Year - December 31.
7) Serbian-Bulgarian war (1885-1886)
This is another classic example when two neighbouring countries cannot divide territories peacefully. This war began after Bulgaria annexed the territories that were controlled by Ottoman Empire... Serbia was unhappy that Bulgaria had given refuge to the leaders of their main enemy. On November 14, 1885, a conflict broke out, but just 2 weeks later Bulgaria declared its victory. The war killed about 1,500 people on both sides, and several thousand were injured.
8) Third Indo-Pakistani War (1971)
This war took place between December 3 and 16, 1971 between India and Pakistan, which at that time was divided into 2 parts - into the West and the East. The conflict followed the resettlement of millions of East Pakistani refugees to India. They were forced to flee to nearest country- India, because they were persecuted by the authorities of West Pakistan. The West Pakistani authorities did not like that India opened its borders to refugees, and as a result, an armed conflict broke out. As a result, the victory was on the side of India, and East Pakistan (Bangladesh) gained independence.
9) Six Day War (1967)
The 1967 Arab-Israeli War, known as the Six Day War, began on June 5 and ended on June 10. The echoes of this war can be heard today. After the Suez Crisis in 1956, many countries had conflicts with Israel. There were many political maneuvers and peace treaties. Israel declared war with a surprise air strike on Egypt. Fierce battles were fought for 6 days, and ultimately Israel was victorious by capturing the Gaza Strip, the Sinai Peninsula, West bank the Jordan River and the Golan Heights. There are still disputes over these territories.
10) Anglo-Zanzibar War (27 August 1896)
The shortest war in history is the Anglo-Zanzibar War, which took place in the late summer of 1896. In total, this war lasted only 40 minutes. The death of Sultan Hamad ibn Tuwayni was one of the prerequisites for an unexpected armed conflict. The sultan who replaced him did not want to support the interests of the British, which, of course, did not like Great Britain. He was given an ultimatum, but he refused to leave the palace. At 9:02 am on August 27, 1896, the palace was set on fire. The royal yacht was attacked and sunk. At 9:40 am, the flag on the palace was lowered, which meant the end of hostilities. In 40 minutes, about 570 people died, all from the African side. The British hastened to appoint another sultan, who began to obey them.
