Original Item: Only One Available. Ersatz can be traced back in English to the 1870s, but it really came into prominence during World War I. Borrowed from German, where Ersatz is a noun meaning "substitute," the word was frequently applied as an adjective in English to modify terms like coffee (made from acorns) and flour (made from potatoes)—ersatz products resulting from the privations of war. By the time World War II came around, bringing with it a resurgence of the word along with more substitute products, ersatz was wholly entrenched in the language. Today, ersatz can be applied to almost anything that seems like an artificial imitation.

This lovely late war ersatz pressed paper ammunition crate was used by the German Luftwaffe for the 3.7cm Flak 43. The 3.7 cm Flak 43 was a light anti-aircraft (AA) gun used by Germany during World War II. It was derived from the 3.7-centimeter (1.5 in) Flak 18/36/37 series of AA guns. It was provided with single- and twin-gun mounts, the latter being designated as the 3.7 cm Flak 43 Zwilling and was in service from 1944 to 1945. In addition to versions used by the Kriegsmarine (German Navy), it served as the main armament of the Ostwind and Möbelwagen and was proposed for use in the Flakpanzer Coelian self-propelled AA guns.

The crate is in great overall condition and has two very interesting tags that denote Soviet capture and issue. The handle side of the box retains stenciling but one of the Soviet tags is on top of it. It would’ve originally read:

Luftwaffe-Munition
Gesamfgew
Nicht hochkant öffnen
und nicht kanten

Direct Translation:

Luftwaffe ammunition
total weight
Do not open upright
and not edges

The Soviet tag on this side is heavily worn away and is likely why a second tag was attached on the opposite side. This one is more legible, but only appears to be storage information for the crate. This piece saw very heavy use even after being captured, but it’s still in great shape. The only real issue is that the handle is now broken off at one of the four corners to which it is attached. There is heavy wear to that leather overall but otherwise the crate is in good shape. 

The handle side of the crate is stamped jjj which denotes manufacture by Görlitzer Koffer- & Lederwarenfabrik Neuhaus KG, a maker of holsters, ammunition pouches, and associated articles. 

The crate measures roughly 16 ¾ x 9 ¼ x 10”

Ready for display.