Heinz Brandt, der Fremdenlegionär Nr. 61-70 (1914.)

The issues in this set belong to the first war issues of the series. They were published during 1914 (approximately August–December), immediately after the outbreak of World War I. During this period, the title of the series began to change to Heinz Brandt der ehemalige Fremdenlegionär, and the stories increasingly reflected the patriotic spirit and German propaganda against the French Foreign Legion.

The series was created in the context of the long-standing German campaign against the French Fremdenlegion (Foreign Legion). The German Empire actively warned young men about the dangers of serving in legionary units, which were often portrayed as a modern slave army and cannon fodder for French colonial wars. Of particular importance was the Casablanca-Affäre in 1908, when German consuls helped German legionnaires desert. The back pages of the Hefts contained an open appeal against Legion recruiters, with a reward of 500 marks for information.

Heinz Brandt is portrayed as a young, brave and patriotic German who serves in the Legion (in North Africa, Madagascar, Indochina, etc.) but remains loyal to German values. After the outbreak of war, he "deserted" from the Legion and joined the German army, fighting on all fronts (France, Flanders, Russia, the Middle East).

Later, the series continued with adventures in South America. This perfectly reflected the German mood: escapism through exotic adventures before the war, and patriotic wartime propaganda during and after the conflict. These are the classic Vorkrieg / Frühkriegs-Heftromane that reflect the German mood on the eve and at the very beginning of the First World War.

This set is especially interesting, as it is very rarely available in bound form. It is a continuous block of 10 issues from 1914. It has significant historical value – a document of the time and popular literature of the First World War. Ideal for collectors of German Heftroman, Vorkrieg series, militaria or Foreign Legion history.

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