History’s Timing Is Wild

Some armies marched in expecting a quick win and got stuck for years. Others stumbled into the fastest fight of their lives. Battle lengths tell stories of planning gone right or horribly wrong. That’s what makes this contrast so fascinating. A drawn-out siege says as much about history as a sudden surrender. Here’s a breakdown of 10 battles that dragged on, and 10 that wrapped up shockingly fast.

David Rubinger on Wikimedia

1. Siege Of Candia (1648–1669)

As the longest siege in recorded military history, the Siege of Candia endured for over 21 years. Part of the Ottoman–Venetian War, this confrontation stretched engineering to its limits. French troops joined the Venetian defense late, yet even reinforcements couldn't reverse the slow march of attrition.

Dirk Jansz van Santen on Wikimedia

2. Battle Of Verdun (1916)

The phrase “They shall not pass” originated from Verdun, a World War I battle that lasted 302 days. Over 700,000 soldiers were killed, wounded, or missing as France and Germany fought to a standstill. The battle’s psychological toll on France was even greater.

Collection DocAnciens/docpix.fr on Wikimedia

3. Battle Of Stalingrad (1942–1943)

A turning point in World War II’s Eastern Front, the Battle of Stalingrad lasted more than five months. Soviet defenders fought block by block in a devastated city. Winter deepened, and both sides withered. Eventually, the German 6th Army was encircled and crushed.

UnknownUnknown on Wikimedia

4. Siege Of Leningrad (1941–1944)

Few events rival the horror of Leningrad’s 872-day siege. Encircled during World War II, over a million civilians died while the city refused to fall. Supplies crossed frozen Lake Ladoga, nicknamed the “Road of Life.” Despite unimaginable suffering, music was composed and art exhibited.

Deror_avi on Wikimedia

5. Battle Of Okinawa (1945)

The bloodiest battle of the Pacific War raged for 82 days on Okinawa. It was the largest amphibious assault in the region—and it wasn’t just soldiers who suffered. Thousands of civilians were caught in the crossfire, while relentless kamikaze attacks battered the U.S. Navy.

Signal Corps Archive from Ireland and United States on Wikimedia

6. Battle Of Passchendaele (1917)

For 105 days, Allied and German forces struggled through mud that swallowed men alive. Soldiers drowned in waterlogged craters, and after months of fighting, the front moved only five miles. Officially called the Third Battle of Ypres, Passchendaele became the face of futility and horror of trench warfare.

John Warwick Brooke on Wikimedia

7. Siege Of Sarajevo (1992–1996)

Modern warfare rarely mirrors medieval tactics, yet the Siege of Sarajevo brought urban strangulation back to the forefront. Over nearly four years, the Bosnian capital became a sniper’s playground. It’s the longest siege of a capital city in recent history.

Hedwig KlawuttkeHedwig Klawuttke (german main account) on Wikimedia

8. Battle Of The Somme (1916)

Somme’s opening day remains the deadliest in British military history. Over 57,000 casualties marked the start of 140 days of futile trench combat. Artillery fire echoed across the English Channel. The Somme became a lasting symbol of World War I’s brutality and waste.

German official photographer on Wikimedia

9. Battle Of Luzon (1945)

Capturing Luzon was vital to ending the Pacific War. Lasting over six months, it was the largest U.S. land campaign in the region. Japanese troops fought from fortified caves, drawing out the conflict. More than 200,000 lives were lost—many of them were Filipino civilians.

W.wolny on Wikimedia

10. Battle Of Aleppo (2012–2016)

Stretching over four years, the Battle of Aleppo is one of the Syrian Civil War’s most devastating episodes. Government and rebel forces turned neighborhoods into war zones. In 2016, the siege of East Aleppo marked a turning point, where ancient markets and mosques were reduced to rubble under relentless shelling.

Qasioun News Agency on Wikimedia

Now, let’s look at 10 battles that ended before most realized they’d begun.

1. Anglo-Zanzibar War (1896)

Hostilities began at 9:02 a.m. and ended before breakfast was over. The Anglo-Zanzibar War, triggered by a succession dispute, is widely considered the shortest war in history—and based on length and scope, is basically just a battle at the end of the day. After just 38 minutes, British forces shelled the palace and forced surrender.

Richard Mohun on Wikimedia

2. Battle Of Isandlwana (1879)

At first glance, British imperial forces seemed unstoppable until they met the Zulu army at Isandlwana. Within a few hours, Zulu warriors overwhelmed a better-armed colonial force using coordinated attacks and sheer numbers. Over 1,300 British troops were killed.

Hohum on Wikimedia

3. Battle Of San Jacinto (1836)

In just 18 minutes, the Battle of San Jacinto brought the Texas Revolution to a sudden, stunning close. Texan forces caught the Mexican army off guard during their rest and quickly overwhelmed them. General Santa Anna was captured in disguise, as “Remember the Alamo” echoed in fierce, decisive revenge.

William Henry Huddle (1847 - 1892) on Wikimedia

4. Battle Of Copenhagen (1801)

Naval warfare met bold disobedience in Copenhagen, where British ships engaged Danish-Norwegian defenses for less than five hours. Vice Admiral Nelson famously ignored a recall order and pressed the attack. As the smoke cleared, peace negotiations began almost immediately.

Christian Mølsted on Wikimedia

5. Battle Of Omdurman (1898)

In mere hours, British-Egyptian forces decimated the Mahdist army using modern rifles and Maxim machine guns. Over 10,000 Mahdists fell, while British casualties numbered just 47. Omdurman displayed the lethal efficiency of industrial-era weapons against traditional forces, making it one of history’s most lopsided and quick defeats.

G.W Bacon & Co. - A. Sutherland on Wikimedia

6. Invasion Of Panama (1989)

Codenamed Operation Just Cause, this lightning-fast U.S. military campaign ousted dictator Manuel Noriega in under a week. While the invasion was swift, Noriega’s bizarre escape attempt stood out: he sought asylum in the Vatican embassy, where troops blasted rock music to force him out.

DoD photo by PH1(SW) J. Elliott on Wikimedia

7. Battle Of Fort Sumter (1861)

The war that tore a nation apart started with a fight that barely lasted two days. Confederate artillery opened fire on Union-held Fort Sumter, and after 34 hours of bombardment, the Union surrendered. No soldiers died in this battle, yet its political fallout sparked the American Civil War.

Currier & Ives. Uploaded by Christophe cagé 12:52, 6 September 2006 (UTC) on Wikimedia

8. Battle Of Blenheim (1704)

In just one day, the Battle of Blenheim shattered Franco-Bavarian momentum in the War of the Spanish Succession. Commanders Marlborough and Prince Eugene led a bold Allied assault that killed or captured over 20,000 enemy troops. British forces returned to London, parading captured generals—a bold show of victory.

Lambert de Hondt (II) on Wikimedia

9. Operation Urgent Fury (1983)

Following a Marxist coup in Grenada, U.S. forces intervened to evacuate American medical students and stabilize the island. Troops faced disorganized planning—some even relied on tourist maps—and encountered more resistance than expected. Still, the operation showcased improved coordination among U.S. military branches during the Cold War.

photographer: TSgt. M. J. Creen, USAF on Wikimedia

10. Battle Of The Spurs (1513)

This short-lived clash earned its nickname from the rapid French retreat—more spurs than swords were used. English forces routed the cavalry in mere hours as they fled the field. Several captured French nobles were treated courteously, even joining their captors for dinner.

AnonymousUnknown author on Wikimedia