A Rare First Issue Of The Waffen-Ss Journal In France

An issue of the official journal of the Waffen-SS in France, called “Devenir” (Becoming). 8 pages, It measures 295x450mm, fair condition with serious fraying around left and right.

It is the first issue of the first year, published in February 1944. Only five issues in total are confirmed to exist.

The journal was a propaganda piece, used in an effort to recruit non-Germans into the SS. An article in this issue talk about the training camp in Sennheim, where foreign men were trained to become SS members.
Other articles are about a united Europe fighting against Bolshevism, about French men in the SS, an article calling Danish Youth to serve on the Eastern Front, an interview with the mayor of Rotterdam, Netherlands, about rebuilding his city, and one about the common Nordic/Viking heritage of the central and northern European countries.

Articles in this issue were written, amongst others, by Joseph Darnand and Franz Riedweg.

Footnote:
Joseph Darnand (1897–1945) was a French collaborator, SS-Sturmbannführer, and head of the Milice française, a paramilitary organisation created by the Vichy regime with the help of Nazi Germany to fight the French resistance.

Franz Riedweg (1907–2005) from Switzerland was an SS-Obersturmbannführer and Chief of the Germanischen Leitstelle (German Central Office) of the SS-Hauptamt (Main Administration).