What was the stupidest war?
Asked by: Mrs. Katrina Kreiger MD | Last update: February 6, 2026Score: 4.8/5 (3 votes)
There's no single "stupidest war," but contenders often cited for trivial reasons include the War of the Oaken Bucket (Bologna vs. Modena over a stolen bucket) and the Pig War (US vs. UK over a pig shot in a garden), both involving absurd escalations, while the Kettle War (Holy Roman Empire vs. Dutch Republic) involved only a shot hitting a kettle, and the War of Jenkins' Ear started from a sliced-off ear, highlighting how minor incidents sparked major conflicts.
What was the dumbest war?
The Opium Wars in the 1840's began when China was trying to stop the British from trafficking opium in their country. The War of Jenkin's Ear apparently stemmed from a misunderstanding when Captain Robert Jenkins of the British Navy had his ear severed by Spanish coast guards in 1731.
What is the weirdest war?
Pig War: 1859 in the Pacific Northwest. San Juan Island was disputed between the British and the Americans, as the border had not been clearly defined. An American shot a pig belonging to a Brit that was trespassing on his property. Both sides sent military units.
What was the most boring war in history?
The Phoney War (French: Drôle de guerre; German: Sitzkrieg; Polish: Dziwna wojna) was an eight-month period at the outset of World War II, lasting from September 1939 to May 1940, during which there were virtually no Allied military land operations on the Western Front.
What was the most terrible war?
In 1945 WWII became the bloodiest war in recorded history. Death tolls, especially those further back in time, are best estimates.
The Stupidest Wars in History
What war had 0 deaths?
A "war with no casualties" typically refers to "bloodless wars" or "paper wars," like the famous Three Hundred and Thirty-Five Years' War (Netherlands vs. Isles of Scilly), which lasted centuries without a shot fired, or conflicts like the Kettle War and Anglo-Swedish War where formal declarations occurred, but actual fighting or deaths didn't happen, often ending with treaties and trade continuing. These conflicts are characterized by political disputes, threats, or minor incidents that never escalated into actual combat or fatal engagements, highlighting disputes resolved through diplomacy or sheer neglect.
What war lasted 37 minutes?
The "37-minute war" refers to the Anglo-Zanzibar War of 1896, the shortest war in recorded history, lasting approximately 38-45 minutes, not exactly 37 minutes, though sometimes rounded down. Fought between the British Empire and the Sultanate of Zanzibar, it began after the pro-British Sultan died, and his defiant cousin Khalid bin Barghash seized the throne; the British responded by bombarding the palace, forcing Khalid's swift surrender and establishing their preferred ruler.
What is the most forgotten war?
The Korean War, which ended with an armistice on July 27, 1953, is sometimes referred to as the "forgotten war" or a "police action" because it was overshadowed by World War II several years earlier, and Congress never declared war on North Korea.
What's worse, WW1 or WW2?
World War II was significantly worse than World War I in terms of overall casualties, civilian suffering, and global devastation, with estimates of 70-90 million deaths compared to WWI's 20 million, but WWI was uniquely horrific for soldiers due to brutal trench warfare, leading to intense suffering in specific areas like the Western Front, while WWII introduced industrialized genocide (the Holocaust) and nuclear weapons, making it the deadliest conflict in history. The "worse" war depends on perspective, but WWII's scale of death, destruction, and targeted civilian atrocities makes it generally considered more devastating.
What was the most boring day in history?
April 11, 1954, is considered by search engine Evi as the least eventful day in the 20th century. Very few significant newsworthy events, births, or deaths are known to have happened on this day. Born: Ian F.
Are WWII bodies still being found?
Yes, bodies from World War II are still being found regularly across Europe, the Pacific, and other former battlefields, discovered through ongoing recovery efforts by government agencies and volunteer groups, often unearthed by construction, farming, or erosion, highlighting the war's enduring physical legacy. Organizations like the Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge (German War Graves Commission), DPAA (Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency), and History Flight work to identify and provide dignified burials for these soldiers, even decades after the war ended.
What war has never ended?
Many times the Korean War is called the "forgotten war". Coming on the heels of the victories of WWII, the Korean War never had an actual end, but only stopped with an armistice. It remains that way even today.
Why were soldiers given condoms in WWII?
WW2 soldiers carried condoms primarily for disease prevention, as the military issued them to combat high rates of venereal diseases (VD) like syphilis and gonorrhea, but soldiers found many other uses, including covering rifle muzzles to keep out mud and grit, waterproofing small items like matches or explosives, and even using them as emergency water pouches or surgical gloves.
Has the US ever lost a war?
Has the U.S. lost a war? The United States has engaged in several wars that resulted in minimal gain or outright loss for the US. These include conflicts like the War of 1812, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
What country has never seen a war?
Topping the list of countries that have never been to war is San Marino, one of the oldest Republics in the world. Founded in the 4th century, it has an area of 61.2 square kilometres and has fewer than 40,000 residents.
What was the most useless war?
Top 5 most brutal and pointless wars ever
- 3600. BCE.
- The first catastrophic. A few hundred skeletons with broken bones and piles of ammunition for slings among the ruins of ten-feet-high clay walls. ...
- The tax holocaust. ...
- Nomadic calling. ...
- Massacre for the coast. ...
- Exporting the revolution.
Which war had 0 deaths?
A "war with no casualties" typically refers to "bloodless wars" or "paper wars," like the famous Three Hundred and Thirty-Five Years' War (Netherlands vs. Isles of Scilly), which lasted centuries without a shot fired, or conflicts like the Kettle War and Anglo-Swedish War where formal declarations occurred, but actual fighting or deaths didn't happen, often ending with treaties and trade continuing. These conflicts are characterized by political disputes, threats, or minor incidents that never escalated into actual combat or fatal engagements, highlighting disputes resolved through diplomacy or sheer neglect.
What was Hitler's reaction to WW1?
Hitler's reaction to WWI was initially fervent patriotism, finding purpose in service, but ended in profound despair, rage, and a sense of betrayal over Germany's defeat, which he attributed to "November Criminals" (politicians, Jews, Marxists) at home, fueling his antisemitism and motivating his extreme nationalist politics that led to the Nazi Party and WWII. He viewed his wartime experiences as the most significant period of his life and the subsequent harsh Treaty of Versailles as a national humiliation.
What does D in D Day stand for?
The "D" in D-Day stands for "day," a military code word used for the start date of a significant operation, with "D-Day" simply meaning "the day" the invasion begins, and "H-Hour" meaning the start time, allowing for detailed planning before the actual date is set, though other theories suggest "disembarkation" or "decision".
What was the silliest war in history?
The War of Jenkins' Ear
In the 1730s, a peculiar incident involving Captain Robert Jenkins set the stage for a conflict between Britain and Spain. While sailing near the Spanish coast, Jenkins was captured and had his ear severed by Spanish forces as a warning against smuggling.
Why is Korea called Korea?
The name Korea is an exonym, derived from Goryeo or Koryŏ. Both North Korea and South Korea use the name in English. However, in the Korean language, the two Koreas use different terms to refer to the nominally unified nation: Joseon or Chosŏn (조선; 朝鮮) in North Korea and Hanguk (한국; 韓國) in South Korea.
What is the coldest war?
The Battle of Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War has to be a contender - fought while temperatures plunged to a low of -38 C.
Which war lasted 800 years?
Rome vs Persia; the 800 Year War The 800 year war between Iran's Parthian & Saasnian dynasties on the one hand and Italy's Roman Republic/Empire and Byzantium on the other, is the longest military conflict between empires in human history.
What war lasted 5 days?
The Six-Day War, or the 1967 Arab–Israeli war (5–10 June 1967), was fought between Israel and a coalition of Arab states, primarily Egypt, Syria, and Jordan within the context of the Arab–Israeli conflict.
What happened in 1896 US history?
November 3 – U.S. presidential election, 1896: Republican William McKinley defeats William Jennings Bryan. This is later regarded as a realigning election, starting the Fourth Party System in which Republicans dominate politics until 1913.