Handgun ammunition of the Axis powers
This book offers a comprehensive overview of the handgun ammunition used by the Axis powers and their allies during the Second World War. The focus is on the standard service calibers—Germany’s 9mm Luger (Pistolenpatrone 08), Italy’s 9mm Glisenti and 9mm Corto (.380 Auto), and Japan’s 8mm Nambu. In addition, it covers the wide range of supplementary cartridges originating from prewar stocks, captured weapons, or imports, including 7.65mm Browning, 9mm Kurz, 7.63mm Mauser, and many others.
The work is clearly organized by country and caliber and serves both as a quick reference and as material for in-depth reading. Tables with ballistic data, information on manufacturers, production quantities, packaging, and headstamps provide direct practical value for collectors.
It addresses not only the three main Axis powers—Germany, Italy, and Japan—but also their European allies (Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Finland) as well as Asian satellite states and troop formations (Thailand, Manchukuo, the Nanjing regime, Burma, INA, PETA). Officially neutral states with de facto involvement, such as Spain, Portugal, Vichy France, and Turkey, are also included.
A dedicated chapter focuses on officers’ and privately owned pistols in 6.35mm Browning caliber, which were militarily insignificant but are of great collector and cultural-historical interest.
This book is intended for collectors, historians, and all technically minded readers seeking a clear, structured overview of the wide variety of handgun ammunition used in the Second World War. It consolidates dispersed information into a compact format, making it a practical reference work.