175 Years of Bertelsmann – The Legacy for our Future

In 2010, Bertelsmann celebrates its 175th anniversary under the heading “175 Years of Bertelsmann – The Legacy for our Future.” This motto expresses the entrepreneurial spirit and creative power that have always been characteristic of Bertelsmann, as well as the viability of the company’s current core businesses. Several events are planned to mark the anniversary year, including an employee party at the Gütersloh headquarters in July, and a festive ceremony in Berlin in September with noted German and international guests.

Further impetus comes from an exploration of the company's history: The report published by the Independent Historical Commission (IHC) in 2002 provided an extensive consideration of the Nazi period and includes detailed sections on the 19th and early 20th century. Now, during its anniversary year, Bertelsmann will concentrate on the postwar period, thereby paying homage to the life’s work of the company’s post-war founder Reinhard Mohn, who died in October 2009 at the age of 88. Founded in Gütersloh on July 1, 1835 as a small Protestant Christian publisher, Bertelsmann is today one of the largest media companies in the world. 



Bertelsmann will provide ongoing updates about all anniversary-related activities on this site.