In 1936, Walther Arms collaborated with Gustav Genschow and Company (GECO) to produce the 9x18 Ultra on behalf of the Luftwaffe, the illegally formed aerial branch of the German military. By the time World War II broke out, the Luftwaffe had become the most powerful military force in Europe.

In light of the new military’s impending needs, the Germans had requested a round to replace the less powerful .380 ACP. The 9x18 Ultra was born, keeping the same rim dimensions and 100 grain weight. World War II interrupted the progress of the invention, and the cartridge was not officially adopted until Walther introduced the Walther PP Super (PP Super) in 1972.

Walther PP Series

Developed by the German arms manufacturer Carl Walther, the Walther PP (Police Pistol) series is comprised of blowback-operated semi-automatic pistols. The double-action pistols feature an exposed hammer, single-column magazine, and a fixed barrel. Several innovative safety features include an automatic hammer lock, a loaded chamber indicator and a combination safety/decocker. The series includes the Walther PP, PP Super, PPK, PPK/L, PPK/S, and PPK/E models.

The original PP was introduced in 1929. First designed for European police, it quickly became desirable by the newly formed German Luftwaffe – whose secret training required a more powerful weapon and ammo. The Walther PP, along with 9x18 Ultra ammunition, fit the bill.

PP Super

Introduced in 1972, the PP Super was an all-steel model of the PP, chambered for 9x18mm Ultra ammo. Designed as a police pistol, it was a blowback, double-action pistol with a firing-pin safety and an external slide-stop lever.

When the German police adopted the 9x19mm round as their standard ammunition, the experimental 9x18 Ultra cartridge fell into disuse. In the 1970s, Walther saw a dramatic decrease in sales, with only about 2,000 PP Super pistols sold to German police forces.

Walther withdrew the PP Super from their catalog in 1979.

PPK

Released in 1930, the PPK (Polizeipistole Kriminalmodell or Detective Police Pistol) is one of the most popular models in the PP series. It uses a two-piece wrap-around grip construction designed to conceal the exposed back strap and a short barrel and frame. The new design was ideal for police detectives to carry concealed.

In pop culture, the PPK has a diverse claim to fame, which has only increased its popularity:

• In April 1945, Adolf Hitler shot and killed himself using a Walther PPK (.32 ACP) in his Führerbunker in Berlin.
• In 1979, South Korean dictator Park Chung-hee was assassinated by Kim Jae-gyu, using a Walther PPK.
• Ian Fleming, author of the James Bond series of novels, chose a Walther PPK for his secret agent’s weapon of choice. The Walther PPK appeared in many of the novels and • Bond movies, beginning with Dr. No. The actual gun carried in the movies, however, was a Walther PP pistol.
• Actor Jack Lord was presented with a gold-plated Walther PPK with ivory hand grips.
• Singer Elvis Presley owned a PPK with a silver finish. The gun was inscribed "TCB" ("Taking Care of Business").

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