The Anglo-Zanzibar War: The Shortest War in History
The Anglo-Zanzibar War lasted just 38 minutes in 1896 with 500 Zanzibaris killed or wounded while Britain suffered one sailor injured.
History
Strange, short and almost forgotten moments from history, told clearly with sources cited.
Operation Mincemeat Fools Hitler
Operation Mincemeat used a dead man with fake papers to fool Hitler, and German divisions in the Balkans rose from 8 to 18 before the Sicily landing.
Vasa: Sweden’s Pride Sinks After 4,265 Feet
Vasa, Sweden’s pride, sank after sailing only 4,265 feet in 1628 due to instability from too much weight high in the hull.
Hiroo Onoda: One Soldier Fights On for 29 Years
Hiroo Onoda fought a guerrilla war on Lubang Island for nearly 29 years after Japan surrendered in 1945 until his commander canceled the order in 1974.
Cher Ami: The Pigeon That Saved 194 Soldiers
Cher Ami saved 194 soldiers when its final message stopped friendly artillery fire on the Lost Battalion despite being shot and losing a leg.
The 1518 Dancing Plague of Strasbourg
In July 1518 Frau Troffea began dancing uncontrollably in Strasbourg and within a week over 30 people had joined her in the dancing plague.
One Night Erases Ten October Dates
In 1582 people in Rome and Madrid went to bed on October 4 and woke on October 15 as ten calendar dates vanished overnight.
Singapore Chewing Gum Ban: Four Days After Announcement
Singapore’s chewing gum ban started just four days after its announcement in 1992 after gum jammed metro train doors in 1991.
Sealand: One Resident Holds a Nation at Sea
In 1967 Paddy Roy Bates declared a WWII sea fort off Suffolk the Principality of Sealand. As of August 2024, one person lives there full time.
Balto Halts Serum Team on Thin Ice
Balto halted his serum team on thin ice over the Topkok River in 1925, saving them before leading 13 dogs 53 miles to Nome at 5:30 a.m.
Sweden Switches Sides: Dagen H in Ten Minutes
On September 3, 1967, Sweden stopped all traffic at 4:50 a.m. and switched from left to right in ten minutes, though 83 percent had voted to keep the left.