This inert 9mm cartridge is dated 1943 and features the wartime manufacturer code “dnh”, identifying production by Rheinisch‑Westfälische Sprengstoff A.-G. (RWS). RWS was one of Germany’s major ammunition producers and operated several factories supplying cartridges for the German armed forces throughout the Second World War.
The cartridge is chambered for the 9×19mm Parabellum round, the standard pistol and submachine gun ammunition used by German forces during the war. It was widely issued for service pistols such as the Luger P08 and Walther P38, as well as submachine guns including the MP38 and MP40, making it one of the most recognisable military cartridges of the period.
German wartime ammunition commonly used coded headstamps rather than full manufacturer names. These letter codes were introduced to obscure the exact location of production facilities while still enabling identification within the military supply system.
This example retains its brass case with the 1943 date and factory code stamped on the base. The cartridge has been fully deactivated and rendered inert, with no active primer or propellant present. As a result, it is safe for handling and display and makes an excellent addition to a Second World War ammunition or militaria collection.
