Wars Aren't Always Drawn-Out Affairs

We often associate wars with years or even decades of tragic bloodshed, but that's not always the case. Many times, conflicts have been solved in mere days, hours, or even minutes, due to lopsided power, clever strategy, or one side just not caring a whole lot. Whether through surprise, superior planning, or sheer intimidation, here are the easiest victories in history. 

Emanuel Leutze on Wikimedia

1. Anglo-Zanzibar War

The Anglo-Zanzibar War, between Britain and Zanzibar, an island off the coast of East Africa which was a British protectorate, was the shortest in history, lasting only 38 minutes. The battle occurred after Sultan Khalid bin Barghash took the throne without British approval. 500 Zanzibari were killed while the British had but one casualty.

Richard Mohun on Wikimedia

2. The Six-Day War

The Six-Day War was a remarkably swift conflict that reshaped the Middle East. After Egypt began massing troops and blocking Israeli shipping, Israel launched a preemptive attack, destroying much of Egypt's air force and moving ground forces into the Sinai, capturing vast lands, and tripling the size of Israeli-controlled territories. 

Shabtai Tal on Wikimedia

3. The Invasion of Grenada

Considered the US's easiest modern military victory, the invasion of Grenada happened in 1983 after the small Caribbean island experienced a Marxist coup. 7,000 US troops were sent to intervene and met little resistance from the Grenadian forces. The operation lasted only about a week and ended with the US installing a pro-American government.

Journalist Petty Officer 1st Class (JO1) Sundberg, US Navy on Wikimedia

4. The Battle of Manila Bay

The Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War was one of the most effortless naval battles in history. US ships were sent to the Philippines to attack the Spanish Pacific fleet in Manila Bay, whose outdated and poorly maintained ships were overwhelmed in just a few hours by the Americans.

W. G. Wood on Wikimedia

5. The Soviet Invasion of Czechoslovakia

In 1968, the Soviets invaded Czechoslovakia, which was experiencing a period of political liberalization. 200,000 Soviet troops entered the country and met a terribly unprepared Czech military, who put up little resistance to avoid being crushed. The military operation was over within days and ended with the USSR restoring control.

The Central Intelligence Agency on Wikimedia

6. The Battle of Omdurman

One of the most uneven conflicts in history, the Battle of Omdurman saw British troops enter the Sudan with modern rifles, artillery, and machine guns, going against Mahdist forces armed mainly with spears and swords. The British annihilated the Mahdist army and restored control over the region.

Robert Talbot Kelly on Wikimedia

7. The U.S. Invasion of Panama

The US invaded Panama in 1989 after the country's leader started being hostile. The US decided to remove him from power and install a government that would be more favorable to American interests. 27,000 American troops descended on Panama, meeting minimal resistance, and leading Panama to surrender in less than two weeks.

MASTER SGT. KEN HAMMOND on Wikimedia

8. The Battle of Singapore

The Battle of Singapore during WWII saw Japan invade the supposedly impregnable British-controlled Singapore. Japanese forces used jungle warfare and air superiority to overwhelm the British, leading to their unconditional surrender in just a week.

Natalinasmpf. on Wikimedia

9. The Anschluss

The Anschluss saw Germany annex Austria without firing a shot. In 1938, German troops entered Austria, but instead of meeting resistance, they were largely welcomed by people there who were sympathetic to Hitler, who was Austrian-born. 

Unknown on Wikimedia

10. American Capture of Guam

One of the US's easiest victories during the Spanish-American War is also one of the most humorous. A US warship arrived in Guam to find the Spanish garrison there unaware that they were at war. The exceptionally underprepared forces quickly surrendered without firing a shot.

Rear Admiral Ammen Farenholt on Wikimedia

11. The Russian Invasion of Finland

The Russian takeover of Finland happened in 1808 when Finland was still part of Sweden, but Russia wanted to push Sweden out and secure Finland's western border. Russian forces met demoralized and weak Swedish defenses, who only put up minimal resistance.

Unknown author. on Wikimedia

12. The Capture of the Bahamas

The Bahamas, a then-British colony, was captured during the American Revolutionary War by Spain, which was allied with France against Britain. Spanish forces arrived to find a small and unprepared British garrison that surrendered without a fight. 

Aaron Arrowsmith on Wikimedia

13. Invasion of Anjouan

The Invasion of Anjouan, which occurred after Colonel Mohamed Bacar seized power of the island undemocratically, saw the Comoros government team up with African Union forces to restore the federal government's authority. They quickly captured the capital and other key locations with minimal resistance and toppled the illegitimate government in just one day.

CIA & Brianski on Wikimedia

14. Battle of Fort Dearborn

The Battle of Fort Dearborn during the War of 1812 between the US and Native American forces allied with the British was a swift but bloody conflict. While marching along the Chicago River, US forces were ambushed by hundreds of Potawatomi warriors who quickly overwhelmed them. 50 to 60 Americans were killed, and many more were captured.

Unknown author on Wikimedia

15. Battle of Trenton

The Battle of Trenton during the American Revolutionary War was a successful surprise attack planned by George Washington. In the early morning on the day after Christmas, Washington and his roughly 2,400 troops descended on the Hessians, who, still recovering from their celebrations the night before, were quickly overwhelmed.

Hugh Charles McBarron, Jr. on Wikimedia

16. Battle of Karansebes

The Battle of Karansebes is often considered one of the most absurd battles in history. It saw Austrian forces accidentally engage in battle with each other as opposed to the Ottomans, who hadn't even shown up. Once the Ottomans arrived, they secured an unopposed victory over the Austrians, who were still completely out of sorts.

Craciun Cristiana CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia

17. The Battle of San Jacinto

The Battle of San Jacinto during the Texas Revolution saw Texan forces attack a resting Mexican army, taking them by surprise. The battle lasted just 18 minutes, resulting in a Texan victory that secured their independence.

Henry Arthur McArdle on Wikimedia

18. The Mongol Invasion of Baghdad

The Mongols invaded Baghdad in 1258 to expand their empire, surrounding the city. Baghdad's forces were vastly outnumbered and underprepared, and the Mongols killed tens of thousands, destroyed mosques, libraries, and infrastructure.

David Stanley from Nanaimo, Canada on Wikimedia

19. The American Invasion of Baghdad

In 2003, Baghdad was invaded by US troops as part of the 2003 Iraq War. The US invaded Iraq to topple Saddam Hussein’s regime, going up against Baghdad's minimal organized resistance with extensive air strikes and precision artillery. Hussein’s regime fell within days, but the ensuing chaos created a lot of instability in Iraq.

jim.gordon on Wikimedia

20. Operation Desert Storm

Operation Desert Storm was the result of Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait, which prompted the US's swift intervention. Heavily outmatched by American firepower and military technology, Iraqi forces rapidly surrendered, but not before suffering tens of thousands of casualties.

US Air Force on Wikimedia