Company History

“A transparent and responsible handling of its history is vital for Bertelsmann. Dealing openly with the past allows us to tackle the entrepreneurial challenges of the future with equanimity and self-confidence."

View our interactive Flash experience to learn more about Bertelsmann's history through the Bertelsmann Chronicles.

As one of Germany's major historic companies, Bertelsmann has borne a special responsibility toward its employees for 170 years. Tradition-consciousness is a fixture in our corporate culture, which strives to integrate historically developed values with modern corporate policy. Only by dealing with its own history can a company review its progressive decisions based on one's own the history and thereby give it a sound and lasting foundation.