German WW1 Shrapnel Piece

History of the Artifact

During World War I, the German military—like other major powers engaged in the conflict—employed shrapnel-based munitions as part of their standard artillery arsenal. The term “shrapnel” originally derived from a British-invented shell type containing numerous small metal balls meant to be dispersed mid-air to create lethal anti-personnel effects. By 1914, this concept had been widely adopted and integrated into various artillery calibers across the European armies, including that of Imperial Germany.

German shrapnel shells typically featured a hollow projectile filled with small lead or steel balls. These were capped by a time-fuse set to detonate the shell before it hit the ground, causing the casing’s forward end to burst open and scatter the contents over a wide area. Unlike high-explosive shells, which relied on the fragmentation of their own metal casings to injure and kill, shrapnel shells produced a concentrated spray of pre-formed projectiles. Fired from field guns, such as the widely used 7.7 cm Feldkanone 96 n.A., these rounds were intended to break up massed troop formations and cavalry charges. In the early stages of the war, when armies still maneuvered in relatively open terrain and when large-scale infantry assaults across fields were common, shrapnel’s effectiveness was stark and brutal.

However, as the conflict evolved into a grueling stalemate of entrenched positions, the tactical usefulness of shrapnel rounds began to wane. The nature of trench warfare—characterized by fortified lines, deep dugouts, barbed wire, and limited opportunities for massed enemy formations to be caught in the open—reduced the utility of a munition designed primarily to scatter troops in the field. As both sides dug in and developed more sophisticated methods of protection and cover, the Germans, like their opponents, gradually shifted their emphasis toward high-explosive (HE) shells and newer munitions that could better tear through wire, destroy parapets, collapse trenches, and dislodge enemy soldiers from fortified positions.

How do I know these are original German WW1 Shrapnel pieces?

Ancient Artifacts guarantees the Authenticity of items sold through a three layer system of protection: 

1. Ancient Artifacts exclusively sources artifacts from trusted and reputable antique distributors, many of whom have been selling Artifacts for decades.  
2. Next, the Artifact is inspected by an expert team member, who is professionally trained in counterfeit detection After the artifact passes inspection, the Certificate of Authenticity is signed and the Artifact is packaged. 
3. Finally, Ancient Artifacts gives an additional layer of protection by promising a full refund with no questions asked, in the extremely unlikely event that a counterfeit slips through our vetting process.

What will my artifact look like?

Your WW1 Shrapnel Piece will look very similar to the ones shown in the photos. There will always be some variety, given our items are unique historical pieces. The display case included is openable so that you may easily handle and closely observe the artifact. If for whatever reason you get anything that does not fit this description you are entitled to your money back! 

Your order will include:

• One WW1 Shrapnel Piece
• Elegant protective case for preservation and display of your artifact 
• Certificate of Authenticity

Ancient Artifacts relics are guaranteed authentic and have a 100% money back policy. Read more about our Mission and Promise for authenticity.