The history of MBT Editions

Transport yourself to the heart of military history

MBT Éditions is an independent publishing house dedicated to military history and the major events that have shaped the contemporary world.

Founded by three history enthusiasts and publishing professionals with extensive experience in the specialist press and publishing industry, MBT Éditions was established in 2026 based on a shared conviction: military history is a remarkable field for discovery, understanding, and education, with a richness that never ceases to surprise us. There is still so much to write about it, and so many ways to share our passion !

Our ambition is to offer a demanding, relevant, innovative, and accessible perspective on history. From major battles to individual destinies, from technological innovations to political strategies, from armament programs to forgotten projects, we wish to explore every dimension of the military and human adventure.

Through our books, we choose well-documented, richly illustrated, and carefully edited content. We attach particular importance to the quality of research, the reliability of information, and the pleasure of reading.

Because history is not limited to the best-known events, we also like to explore its margins, unearth little-known episodes, tell unique stories, and bring forgotten projects to light.

Our goal: to pass on our passion, combine historical rigor with the pleasure of discovery, appeal to both experts and curious readers, and bring history to life in all its forms !

Team Presentation

  • Yann Mahé

    Historian, lecturer, and PhD in military history from Sciences Po Aix. A specialist in the Second World War, he began writing for the journals Champs de bataille and 2e Guerre mondiale magazine in 2006, before successively becoming editor-in-chief of the magazines Ligne de front, Batailles & Blindés and Aérojournal. He has written more than 250 articles and 19 special issues, as well as several books published by Caraktère, including Les Commandos du Reich, which is considered the standard French-language reference on the subject. Interested in the exotic theaters of operations of the Second World War (his master's degree focused on the 1942 Madagascar Campaign and his doctoral thesis on the Franco-Thai War of 1940–1941), he has also written for the RHE and the journal GBM, contributed to the Dictionnaire des généraux français de la Seconde Guerre mondiale published by Éditions Pierre de Taillac, and published The Franco-Thai War of 1940-1941: A Prelude to the Pacific War with Helion.

  • Nicolas Bélivier

    Graphic and motion designer Nicolas Bélivier has 18 years of experience in graphic design, including 12 years in publishing at Caractère, where his work includes 17,000 pages of books and magazines laid out, 175 covers designed, more than 35,000 photos retouched, hundreds of colorized charts, as well as hundreds of tactical maps and diagrams designed entirely by him. During Caractère’s final three years, he was solely responsible for the graphic design and layout of the publishing house’s entire output. Having also run his own graphic design studio, 6nk Studio, since 2019, military matters are now truly second nature to him, and his extensive experience in military history publishing enables him to make proactive suggestions at every stage of the production process and provide an editorial perspective that complements the authors’.

  • Laurent Tirone

    With 18 years of experience in the world of military history publishing, Laurent Tirone has established himself as one of France’s leading experts on armoured vehicles and mechanised warfare. The long-time editor-in-chief of Trucks n’ Tanks magazine, he has written over 600 articles, 49 special issues and 9 authoritative books for Caractère, including L’Encyclopédie des chars allemands and De l’AMX-13 au Leclerc : Les chars français de la Guerre froide, as well as Les fiascos militaires de la Seconde Guerre mondiale and Les armes secrètes du IIIe Reich : Hitler aurait-il pu gagner la guerre ? for Ixelles Éditions, and Tour du monde des chars de la Seconde Guerre mondiale for L’Escadron les Éditions. He is also passionate about modern fighter aircraft, his other major area of expertise, which has also seen him play a leading role in Air Combat magazine.