GERMAN ISSUED VOL. 1 and year to date.

I need to start this story with the epilogue of VOL. 1: When you're going through tough times, you can either let yourself be miserable or find the strength to fight back and rise above. As a German, I can say that our nation's history is a testament to this—emerging from hardship, showing the world what we're capable of, and contributing in meaningful ways. German reliability and precision are virtues we hold dear, and they're the spirit we want to celebrate in this book.

As a kid, I was fascinated by tanks and guns. There was something mysterious and intriguing about them. In kindergarten, people were worried about me because I always brought toy tanks and camouflaged vehicles to play with. Even now, I can't fully explain the fascination, but it stuck with me. Fast forward to today, and I'm writing this blog post about a journey that introduced me to so many incredible people—from soldiers just doing their duty without seeking recognition, to my comrades at BIA who are true examples of how the German community has evolved.

When I first started RawForces, it was just a hobby—a way to design, create a vibe, connect subcultures, and celebrate a certain lifestyle. I never planned for it to grow into something bigger, like this coffee table book. But one day, my friend Gazo from Nocturnal Reaper Cult suggested the idea. Since our American friends at FOG had already done something similar, we wanted to create our own version that represented German forces—in a RawForces style, with lavish edits and harmonious pictures. We reached out to many well-known figures in the “German forces Instagram community,” and they trusted RF to bring this book to life.

Since I’m essentially a one-man operation, I was fortunate to connect with the guys at BIA, who offered to help with distribution, unite people under one label, and keep me motivated during the creative process. There were countless late nights, creative slumps, and moments where I doubted whether my work was good enough. I was determined to do justice to all the contributors and set a benchmark for us Germans.

Now, with the help of my distribution partner BIA and all the contributors, we’re proud to present what we believe is a milestone for our community. We’re now looking forward to volume 2 that is, as this blog entry is being submitted, available for pre-order. But for now, let’s honor the courage of those who have served and inspire the next generation to chase their dreams. Thank you to everyone who contributed, supported, and showed interest in this project. Your time is the greatest gift you could offer, and it's something we don’t take for granted.

With love, and a reminder to strive to be your best self, one day at a time,

Florian from RawForces