The Anglo-Zanzibar War also called the “shortest war in history”, which occurred in Zanzibar City, Zanzibar Sultanate — now part of Tanzania on August 27, 1896, between 9:00 am to 9:40 am, a duration of 38-45 minutes.
Penpushing reports that investigations as contained in Guinness World Records lists the duration as 38 minutes, and what happened was that Britain and Germany had a “Scramble for Africa” deal called the Heligoland-Zanzibar Treaty 1890.
The Britain got control over Zanzibar as a protectorate, while Sultan Hamad bin Thuwaini, who was pro-British, died suddenly on August 25, 1896, and his cousin Khalid bin Barghash seized the palace and declared himself Sultan without British approval.
Penpushing further reports that Britain wanted their candidate, Hamoud bin Mohammed, on the throne, and gave Khalid an ultimatum: step down and leave the palace by 9:00 am, August 27, or face force.
The report has it that Khalid refused and barricaded himself in the palace with ∼2,800 defenders, 20 artillery pieces, and the royal yacht HHS Glasgow, while at 9:02am, 5 British Royal Navy ships opened fire from the harbor: HMS St George, Philomel, Racoon, Sparrow, Thrush. They also had ∼150 British marines + Zanzibari troops loyal to Britain.
Penpushing also reports that British guns destroyed the palace in ∼10 minutes, while the HHS Glasgow was sunk — it’s the first ship ever sunk by a torpedo, however, Khalid’s artillery and machine guns were no match for naval bombardment.
The findings equally revealed that by 9:40am, Khalid’s flag was shot down, while his forces surrendered, and he escaped, but was later captured, and exiled, however, during the battle number of casualties from Zanzibar were put at 500 deaths /wounded, and one sailor from Britain was injured, as the only British casualty
Penpushing reports that in the aftermath of the shortest war in the world Britain installed Hamoud bin Mohammed as Sultan, and Zanzibar stayed a British protectorate until independence in 1963, then merged with Tanganyika in 1964 to form Tanzania.
Meanwhile, records equally showed that all British shells came from the harbor to west to east and straight into the palace and lighthouse, and the palace had no rear escape except through the German Consulate -200 metre inland.
FOOTNOTE: You want to share story with us? You want to advertise with us? You need publicity for product, or service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348073463653 or email penpushing@yahoo.com
