For a detailed explanation with notes, use one of the following links:
How To Read German Ammo Boxes, Web
How To Read German Ammo Boxes, PDF Download
Or, use the images and text below for quick reference and basic info:
15 Cartridges, Spitzer Bullet with Core
Treuenbrietzen Factory, Delivery 1, 1943
Rifle Powder, NC Flaked (size of grains): Factory Westfaelische-Anhaltische Sprengstoff AG Werk Reinsdorf, Delivery 21, 1940
Cartridge Case (Steel) Lacquered. Treuenbrietzen Factory 3rd Delivery 1943
Bullet: Treuenbrietzen Factory, 1st delivery, 1943
Bullet parts: Treuenbrietzen Factory
Zdh 88 Primer: Deutsche Waffen- u. Munitionsfabriken AG Karlsruhe Factory, delivery 238, 1941
From studying other boxes from the Treuenbrietzen Factory, also from 1943, and all S.m.K, it appears varying powder lots were supplied. These might have been stored at Treuenbrietzen, or supplied from random lots from another location as needed. So far, 1939/69, 1940/21, and 1941/4 powder dates have been found. Similarly, primers come from differing deliveries. So far, deliveries 216, 217, and 238 are known, all dated 1941. These may have been smaller batches than the powder, and the delivery numbers may in fact be sequential if all boxes could be documented.
The Treuenbrietzen factory employed slave labor, and was a concentration camp. It was in fact a sub-camp of Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, a gigantic concentration camp complex which held prisoners, performed medical experiments, routine executions, a gas chamber, and produced products for the German war machine using the slave labor of inmates. The official name of the factory was Metallwarenfabrik Treuenbrietzen GmbH, Selterhof plant. Although the Treuenbrietzen camp is not readily documented in detail by date that I could find, it is clear that by 1942 1,250 slave laborers worked at the factory, plus 150 Prisoners of War (unknown from which nation(s), likely Soviet?). In 1943 Jewish prisoners had been transferred to the surrounding sub-camps, likely including Treuenbrietzen. 2 years after this ammunition was made, in 1945, the Battle of Halbe encompassed the town. The Wehrmacht executed 127 Italian POWs at the camp before the Soviets could arrive. After the Soviets took the town, the Wehmacht and SS retook the town for a short period. When the Soviets took the town for the second time, they murdered somewhere around 1000 civilians and committed other crimes.
This ammunition has a deep and tragic history. It is my opinion that it is important to remember that it was made in a concentration camp by slave labor, and should be respected as an important artifact of the holocaust. One of the boxes in my possession has fingerprints immortalized on the cardboard box by the glue that was used to affix the labels. The fingerprints are those of a slave laborer in a concentration camp over 78 years ago (label pictured above). Note on the bottom right corner a partial print is visible. A full print is visible on the side of the box.
In regards to ammunition usability, I have fired a single round of powder 1940/21 with primers faa 238, same as label pictured. It performed perfectly, without acting "hot", no hangfire. It was in excellent cosmetic condition. All of my rounds with powder load 1939/69 and primers faa 217 L. 41 have exterior corrosion, corroded primers, and worn lacquer. These are immediately suspect, and I would not recommend attempting to fire them. Due to the historic nature of this ammunition, shooting it is not recommended not only due to the unknown state of the powder and primers, but also due to their historic significance and concentration camp history.