Le Journal de Cambronne – 1re année, No. 4 – German Anti-French / Anti-British Propaganda Newspaper Leaflet, 1940 – Robert Hastings / Steve Forbes Provenance.

Original French-language German propaganda newspaper leaflet, Le Journal de Cambronne, 1st year, No. 4, produced during the early months of the Second World War and directed at French soldiers and civilians during the drôle de guerre.

Printed in the form of a small satirical newspaper, the title deliberately invokes General Cambronne, the Napoleonic officer traditionally associated with defiance at Waterloo. The choice of title was calculated: German propagandists used a familiar French military name to give their anti-British and defeatist message a comic, pseudo-patriotic tone.

This issue includes articles and cartoons attacking Britain, French politicians, Paul Reynaud, John Bull, and the Allied war effort. The front page carries the heading “Temps de Semailles”, with agricultural imagery suggesting that French peasants and soldiers were being made to sow death rather than crops. Other sections include “Le cauchemar de John Bull”, “Les dix commandements de la propagande française”, “La fille du roi”, “Le programme de Paul Reynaud”, and radio listings for German broadcasts aimed at French listeners.

The leaflet is a good example of early-war German psychological warfare against France. Rather than using a single slogan, it imitates a humorous popular newspaper, combining satire, anti-British caricature, political mockery and pseudo-news. Its aim was to weaken French confidence in Britain, undermine support for the Reynaud government and present the war as a British-made disaster in which France was being sacrificed.

The series is institutionally recorded. The American School of Classical Studies at Athens records Le Journal de Cambronne, No. 4, 1940 among Second World War propaganda documents in the George Seferis Papers. French archival teaching material also describes Le Journal de Cambronne as a German tract dropped by aircraft, and scholarship on France in 1940 identifies the title as a Nazi propaganda newspaper intended to demoralise French civilians and soldiers.

This copy has notable provenance, having formed part of the collection of Robert Hastings, Churchill scholar and collector, before entering The Churchill Collection of Steve Forbes, publisher of Forbes magazine.

Condition Very good. Minor edge wear, age toning and light handling marks. Complete and legible, with cartoons and text well preserved.

Date: 1940
Issue: 1re année, No. 4
Language: French
Format: Four-page propaganda newspaper leaflet
Size: 22.4 x 15.3 cm
Subject: German propaganda, France 1940, anti-British propaganda, John Bull, Paul Reynaud, drôle de guerre
Provenance: Robert Hastings; The Churchill Collection of Steve Forbes

Why Buy From Hornseys?

Specialists Since 1976

Founded in 1976 and based in the Yorkshire Dales, Hornseys has spent nearly five decades handling rare books, manuscripts, maps, autographs, works on paper, and historical ephemera. Our reputation has been built on scholarship, integrity, and long-term relationships with collectors, institutions, and dealers throughout the United Kingdom and internationally.

Expertise You Can Trust

Every item we offer is individually examined, researched, and catalogued. We undertake detailed bibliographical and historical investigation wherever appropriate, including the identification of editions, states, issue points, provenance, historical context, and institutional holdings. Our descriptions are written to provide collectors with the information needed to make informed decisions and to preserve a permanent record of the item.

Authenticity and Provenance

Authenticity is fundamental to our business. We carefully assess every item before it is offered for sale and provide clear descriptions of provenance, ownership history, inscriptions, signatures, associations, and supporting evidence where known. Any uncertainties are stated openly and transparently.

Carefully Curated Collections

We select material for its historical significance, rarity, condition, collectability, and scholarly interest. Rather than offering volume, we focus on acquiring and presenting items that we believe are worthy of serious collecting, research, and preservation.

Accurate Condition Reporting

Condition is one of the most important factors in determining value. We provide detailed and honest condition descriptions, noting faults, repairs, restoration, and points of wear where present. Our aim is that every item should meet or exceed expectations upon arrival.

Trusted by Collectors Worldwide

Our customers include private collectors, institutions, researchers, specialist dealers, and those purchasing significant gifts. We understand the importance of confidence when buying rare and valuable material and are committed to providing a professional and personal service throughout the purchasing process.

Secure Packaging and Prompt Dispatch

All items are carefully packed to professional standards and dispatched promptly. Particular care is taken with fragile, valuable, and archival material to ensure that it arrives safely and in the condition described.

Our Guarantee

Every item sold by Hornseys is backed by our unconditional guarantee of authenticity and accurate description.

If, for any reason, you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, it may be returned within fourteen days of receipt for a full refund. We ask that customers notify us in advance of a return and that items are returned in the same condition in which they were supplied.

Visit Our Collection

Whether you are building a serious collection, researching a particular subject, or searching for an exceptional gift, we invite you to explore our catalogue. From our gallery in Ripon, on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, Hornseys continues a tradition of scholarship, collecting, and connoisseurship that has served book lovers and collectors since 1976.