BACKGROUND: The development and production of German army ordnance was under the supervision of the HwaA, Heereswaffenamt, (Army Ordnance Office), which was a subsection of the OKH, Oberkommando des Heeres, (High Command of the Army), and was responsible for testing, evaluation and eventual issue of all ordnance. The HwaA would issue all ordnance to a units Quartiermeister, (Supply HQ unit/Quartermaster), which contained the units Administration, Medical, Veterinarian, and Transport officer’s and its main responsibility was the control of all supplies to the forward troops including all vehicle fuel, and lubricant requirements as well as animal feed and rations and ammunition and accessories. The German army developed a wide variety of assorted sized ordnance ranging from the 7.65mm caliber pistol rounds to the 88mm caliber anti-aircraft/anti-tank rounds to the enormous 80cm caliber railway artillery rounds with specific tactical goals depending on the caliber, range and mobility of the particular weapon. The main German machine guns of World War Two were the MG34 developed in 1934 and adopted by the army in 1936 and the MG42 adopted in late 1941. Both weapons utilized the 7.92mm caliber rounds which were produced in a few minor variations. Of Note: With a rate of fire of roughly nine hundred rounds per minute, the MG34 was a formidable weapon with automatic and semi-automatic firing capabilities and production continued even after the cheaper and higher rate of fire, (1,500 rpm), MG42 was introduced.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly, 1 1/4" tall, 2 1/4" wide, 3 1/4" long, natural tan cardboard construction ammunition box with a glued side seam, for fifteen 7.92mm caliber rounds. The box features inserted, fold back flaps to each end with a glued on, blue and white paper label to one end with black and red printed script. The script to the label includes the contents designation, "Patronen s.S.", (Heavy pointed cartridges), and additional, assorted abbreviations which include, "Nz. Gew.Bl.P", (Flaked Nitrocellulose Gun Powder), "Patrh.S. {Stahl}, (Brass Cartridge Case), "Zdh. 88", (Primer Capsule 88). Additional script to the label includes, "für MG", (For Machine Guns), and the manufacturer’s initials, "DWM", indicating, Deutsche Waffe Munition, (German Weapons Ammunition). The contents are absent and the box has been filled with strips of post-war cardboard to maintain it’s shape. The box is in overall very good condition with minor age and usage toning and a couple of small, dark colored stains. Seldom encountered, fragile item that would be a great MG display accessories.