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SHORT HISTORY OF THE JOURNAL
Creation in 1939
Successor to the Revue militaire générale, the Revue des questions de défense nationale (Journal of national defence questions) was created in 1939. In September 1945, it became the Revue de défense nationale, and in 1973 Défense nationale. Its current name Défense nationale et sécurité collective was only adopted in January 2005.
The first board of directors was composed of General BINEAU, General FREYDENBERG and General PUJO, as well as of Rear Admiral ROBERT.
The board was assisted by an Advisory Board within which two National Defence representatives sat, Rear Admiral Castex, Director of the College for Higher National Defence Studies, and General Jamet, Secretary-General of the Higher National Defence Advisory Board, as well as representatives from several ministries.
The first article in the new journal, entitled entitled 'Élite's Duty for National Defence', was signed by Marshal Pétain. To read this article, click on "beginnings"
The Board of Directors met at 6, Cité de Martignac (111, avenue de Grenelle), in Paris, in the 7th district and its telephone number was Invalides 23-01.
The price for each issue was at that time 10 francs and subscription rates for one year (12 issues) were:
• France and colonies: 90 fr.
• Foreign countries: Nations that joined the Stockholm Convention: 140 fr.
• Other countries: 160 fr.
The journal's aims
In the first issue, the Board of Directors introduced the new journal, its purposes and the reasons that led to its creation. This 1939 text, which anticipated the events that were looming on the horizon, is still relevant as regards the journal's current aims.
To read this editorial, click on "beginnings"
1939-45
The declaration of war prevented publication of the September and October 1939 issues, as explained in an insert included in the November 1939 issue:
'After a couple-of-month's break, the Journal of national defence questions is published again with the November issue and it will continue to be published throughout the period of hostilities.
The September issue that could not be disseminated to subscribers - on account of censorship requirements - will be delivered at the earliest opportunity.
As the October issue could not be published, for reasons beyond our control - for which we apologise - current subscriptions will be extended until June 1, 1940".
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In fact, the journal continued to be published up to June 1940, after which it ceased operations until July 1945.
July 45: rebirth
Shortly after the end of WW II, the journal was reborn and the first issue of a new series was published in July 1945.
Then, the Board of Directors was chaired by General Freydenberg, assisted by Rear Admirals Richard and Thierry d'Argenlieu, Generals du Vigier, Bouscat and Boucherie, Lieutenant-Colonel Mesnet, Mr Albert Grenier, a member of the Institut de France, and Mr Laurentie, governor of the French colonies.
The Board was assisted by an Advisory Board chaired by General Juin and including a representative from each ministry. Among them, Mr Joliot-Curie, Director of the National Centre for Scientific Research, represented the Ministry of Education.
Under the title 'The Belgian question', the first article in the new journal was a study by Colonel Charles de Gaulle, inspired by the reoccupation of the left bank of the Rhine by the Reich on 7 March 1936. To read this article, click on "beginnings".
The editorial was signed by General JUIN, who highlighted the purpose of the review.
To read this editorial, click on "beginnings"
Since July 45, continuity despite some changes to the cover...
In September 1945, the Review of national defence questions became the Revue de Défense nationale.
Since that time, the review, which became Défense nationale (National Defence) in 1973, and Défense nationale et sécurité collective in January 2005 has continued to pursue the same missions, publishing 11 issues per year.
It includes articles by authors from different backgrounds and of all nationalities, this contributing to the influence of strategic thought.
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