[1][2] Vennen was launched in 1949 as the official magazine for members of the organization; Helmer Fogedgaard was its first editor-in-chief until 1954 when he was replaced by Axel Axgil.
[3] On March 29, 1955, Vennen's Copenhagen offices were raided by police after it became apparent that the magazine was distributing pornographic images of models under the age of 18.
[4] Copies of the magazine were seized by police and numerous staff members, including both Axgils and Fogedgaard, were arrested and subsequently sentenced to prison.
[2] The raid caused a significant loss of credibility to Vennen from within and outside the homophile movement, and was publicly criticized by editors of other European gay men's magazines.
[3] Journalist Martin Elmer, who had previously written articles and short stories for the magazine, took over the leadership of Vennen in 1956,[2] and was appointed editor-in-chief in 1962.