Ullstein Verlag
A historic Berlin publishing house whose newspaper, magazine, book, and illustrated-media businesses helped shape modern German publishing.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Ullstein Verlag is a German publishing house founded in Berlin by Leopold Ullstein in 1877. It grew from a newspaper acquisition into one of the country’s largest media and publishing enterprises, with activities spanning daily newspapers, illustrated periodicals, magazines, nonfiction, literature, and classical and historical publishing. Its early portfolio included the Berliner Zeitung, the Berliner Illustrirte Zeitung, the B.Z., the Berliner Morgenpost, and the Vossische Zeitung. The company also established important book imprints, most notably Propyläen Verlag, founded in 1919 for nonfiction, history, art history, classical editions, and selected fiction. Ullstein’s rise was closely linked to developments in mass printing, photojournalism, and urban newspaper distribution. The Berliner Illustrirte Zeitung became a major illustrated weekly as printing technology made extensive photographic reproduction commercially viable. The B.Z. am Mittag, relaunched in 1904, is associated with the emergence of the modern German tabloid format. The Berliner Morgenpost, founded in 1898, developed a substantial readership, while the acquisition of the historically established Vossische Zeitung expanded the group’s liberal newspaper presence. By the interwar period, Ullstein had become a major European publishing enterprise and operated from the distinctive Ullsteinhaus in Berlin-Tempelhof, completed between 1925 and 1927 and known for its brick-expressionist architecture and Ullstein owl sculpture. The company’s history was severely disrupted after the Nazi seizure of power. The Jewish Ullstein family was dispossessed in 1934 through forced Aryanization. The business was transferred under duress at a price far below the stated valuation and was subsequently renamed Deutscher Verlag in 1937. During the Nazi period it was affiliated with the Nazi Party’s Franz Eher Nachfolger publishing organization and published or produced newspapers and periodicals serving the regime, including the Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, Das Reich, and Signal. After the Second World War, the publishing house was restored to the Ullstein family but encountered financial difficulties. Axel Springer acquired a minority stake in 1956 and became the majority shareholder by 1960. The West Berlin newspaper properties, including the Berliner Morgenpost and B.Z., moved under Springer ownership and developed a strongly anti-communist and generally right-leaning editorial profile. The newspaper division was taken over by Axel Springer AG in 1956, separating it from the later development of Ullstein’s book-publishing identity. The book business underwent another major restructuring in the early twenty-first century. In 2003, Ullstein’s book-publishing operations were sold in a transaction reviewed by Germany’s Federal Cartel Office. The Heyne, Südwest, and Diana houses went to Random House, while Ullstein, Claassen, Econ, List, Marion von Schröder, and Propyläen became part of the Bonnier Group. Ullstein therefore continued primarily as a book-publishing brand within a larger international publishing group rather than as the former integrated newspaper conglomerate. The name has also remained associated with visual media. ullstein bild, a photographic archive and image brand tracing its roots to the company’s historical picture operations, is now operated under Axel Springer Syndication GmbH. In 2017 Ullstein introduced the Ullstein Five imprint, designed around socially relevant and accessible work by German authors. The imprint’s name refers to the five Ullstein brothers who developed the family enterprise and is intended to signal collaborative publishing across editorial areas. Today, Ullstein is best understood as a historic German publishing brand with continuing book-publishing activity and a legacy extending across newspapers, magazines, photography, architecture, and political and cultural publishing.
History
Ullstein Verlag began on 14 July 1877, when Leopold Ullstein acquired the Neue Berliner Tageblatt, a newspaper connected with Rudolf Mosse’s Berliner Tageblatt. On 1 January 1878 he converted it into the Berliner Zeitung, known as B.Z. The business expanded rapidly through newspaper acquisitions and the development of new periodical formats. In 1894 Ullstein acquired the Berliner Illustrirte Zeitung. As advances in printing enabled the economical use of photographs, the weekly became one of Germany’s most successful illustrated newspapers. The B.Z. am Mittag was relaunched in 1904 and became an important early German tabloid. Leopold Ullstein’s sons Rudolf, Hans, Louis, Franz, and Hermann inherited and developed the enterprise. The group acquired the Vossische Zeitung, a liberal newspaper with roots reaching back to the seventeenth century. It also supported the Berliner Morgenpost, founded in 1898, which achieved a large subscriber base. From 1927 Ullstein published the weekly Die Grüne Post under editor Ehm Welk. The company’s expanding book activities included the establishment of Propyläen Verlag in 1919. Propyläen concentrated on history, art history, classical editions, and nonfiction, while also publishing fiction, including Erich Maria Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front in 1929. Authors associated with the wider Ullstein publishing program included Vicki Baum, Thea von Harbou, and Franz Blei. The company’s industrial and architectural confidence was expressed by the construction of Ullsteinhaus in Berlin-Tempelhof between 1925 and 1927. The 76-metre building became a prominent example of brick expressionism and carried a bronze Ullstein owl sculpture by Fritz Klimsch. By the early 1930s the family-controlled company was one of Europe’s largest publishing enterprises, issuing four daily newspapers as well as numerous magazines. The Nazi takeover brought forced expropriation. In 1934 Nazi authorities seized the Jewish family’s publishing assets and compelled a sale reported at six million marks despite a stated valuation of sixty million marks. In 1937 the company was renamed Deutscher Verlag. It was affiliated with Franz Eher Nachfolger, the Nazi Party publishing house, and during the war it produced publications including the Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, Das Reich, and Signal. This period is central to the company’s history because it combines the destruction of a Jewish family enterprise with the incorporation of its infrastructure into the Nazi media system. Following the war, the Ullstein family regained the publishing house, but the restored company soon faced financial pressure. Axel Springer acquired 26 percent in 1956 and became the majority shareholder by 1960. The newspaper business, including the Berliner Morgenpost and B.Z., moved into the Axel Springer organization. Under Springer, these West Berlin papers adopted a pronounced anti-communist and generally right-wing orientation. Historical accounts also note that the company’s Nazi-era Aryanization was downplayed during the post-war Springer period. The book-publishing operation followed a different path. In 2003 it was sold in a transaction subject to review by the German Federal Cartel Office. The authority approved a division in which Heyne, Südwest, and Diana went to Random House, while the remaining Ullstein group—Ullstein, Claassen, Econ, List, Marion von Schröder, and Propyläen—was sold to Bonnier. This created the modern ownership context for Ullstein’s book identity. The Ullstein name also survives in image publishing. ullstein bild, derived from the historic photographic collection, is operated by Axel Springer Syndication GmbH. In spring 2017 Ullstein added Ullstein Five, an imprint focused on socially relevant but accessible writing by German authors. Its name references the five Ullstein brothers and the idea of cooperation across publishing departments. The brand’s present identity is therefore rooted mainly in German-language book publishing, while its historical newspaper and photographic legacies remain connected with Axel Springer.
- 2017
Ullstein Five launches
[1]Ullstein introduced an imprint for socially relevant and accessible German-authored books.
- 2003
Book-publishing group is sold
[1]The book business was divided between Random House and Bonnier following Federal Cartel Office review.
- 1960
Axel Springer becomes majority shareholder
[1]Springer increased its position to majority control of Ullstein.
- 1956
Axel Springer acquires a stake
[1]Springer purchased 26 percent and took over the newspaper-publishing branch.
- 1937
The company becomes Deutscher Verlag
[1]The Nazi-controlled operation was renamed and affiliated with Franz Eher Nachfolger.
- 1934
Forced Aryanization
[1]Nazi authorities expropriated the Jewish Ullstein family and compelled the sale of its publishing enterprise.
- 1929
Propyläen publishes All Quiet on the Western Front
[1]Erich Maria Remarque’s novel was first published through the Ullstein book program in 1929.
- 1927
Die Grüne Post joins the program
[1]Ullstein began publishing the weekly under editor Ehm Welk.
- 1919
Propyläen Verlag is founded
[1]The imprint was created for history, art history, classical editions, and related nonfiction and fiction.
- 1904
B.Z. am Mittag is relaunched
[1]The relaunch helped establish the title as an early German tabloid newspaper.
Products and positioning
A long-established German publishing name associated with mass-market newspapers, illustrated journalism, literary and nonfiction books, and culturally significant imprints.
Books
Ullstein book publishing
The modern Ullstein book program is the principal continuation of the brand after the newspaper division moved to Axel Springer and the book assets were transferred to Bonnier. It publishes German-language fiction and nonfiction under the Ullstein name and is part of a broader group of imprints associated with the former Ullstein book enterprise.
Book imprint · 1919
Propyläen Verlag
Founded in 1919, Propyläen was created as an imprint for history, art history, classical editions, and nonfiction. Its program also included novels, including Erich Maria Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front, first published in 1929.
Book imprint · 2017
Ullstein Five
Introduced in 2017, Ullstein Five focuses on socially relevant yet accessible stories by German authors. Its name recalls the five Ullstein brothers and expresses a collaborative approach across publishing departments and with authors.
Newspaper · 1898
Berliner Morgenpost
Founded in 1898, the Berliner Morgenpost became a major Berlin newspaper and one of the most important titles in Ullstein’s newspaper portfolio. The newspaper branch was acquired by Axel Springer in 1956.
Newspaper · 1878
B.Z.
The B.Z. originated in Ullstein’s conversion of the Neue Berliner Tageblatt into the Berliner Zeitung in 1878. Its later B.Z. am Mittag format, relaunched in 1904, is associated with the development of German tabloid journalism.
Illustrated weekly · 1894
Berliner Illustrirte Zeitung
Acquired by Ullstein in 1894, the Berliner Illustrirte Zeitung became a highly successful picture paper as advances in printing enabled extensive photographic reproduction. Its history represents Ullstein’s role in the rise of mass-market illustrated journalism.
Photographic archive and image brand · 1877
ullstein bild
The ullstein bild name is associated with the photographic collection built from Ullstein’s illustrated publishing heritage. It is now operated under Axel Springer Syndication GmbH rather than the modern Ullstein book-publishing business.
Controversies
1934
Forced Aryanization and expropriation of the Ullstein family
After the Nazi seizure of power, authorities dispossessed the Jewish Ullstein family and forced the sale of its publishing enterprise for a reported six million marks against a stated valuation of sixty million marks. The business was subsequently integrated into the Nazi-controlled publishing system.
Brand decisions
2017
Launch of Ullstein FiveProduct launchBackground
Ullstein sought a publishing format for socially relevant but accessible stories by German authors.
Action taken
The company launched Ullstein Five, drawing on the historical association with the five Ullstein brothers.
Aftermath
The imprint broadened the contemporary Ullstein book program and emphasized cooperation across editorial areas and with authors.
2003
Sale and division of the book-publishing businessM&ABackground
Ullstein’s book-publishing operations were sold in a transaction requiring review by Germany’s Federal Cartel Office.
Action taken
Heyne, Südwest, and Diana were transferred to Random House, while Ullstein, Claassen, Econ, List, Marion von Schröder, and Propyläen went to Bonnier.
Aftermath
The transaction ended Ullstein’s role as a unified newspaper and book conglomerate and established Bonnier as the group home for the remaining Ullstein book assets.
1956
Transfer of the newspaper-publishing branch to Axel SpringerM&ABackground
The restored post-war Ullstein company faced financial difficulties and Axel Springer acquired a 26 percent stake.
Action taken
Axel Springer took over the newspaper-publishing business and later increased its holding to majority control.
Aftermath
The Berliner Morgenpost and B.Z. became part of Springer’s West Berlin newspaper portfolio, while Ullstein’s book identity developed separately.
1937
Rename the company Deutscher VerlagStrategyBackground
Following the Nazi seizure and forced Aryanization of the enterprise, the publishing operation was reorganized under Nazi control.
Action taken
The company adopted the name Deutscher Verlag and was affiliated with Franz Eher Nachfolger, the Nazi Party publishing house.
Aftermath
The renamed operation published regime-aligned newspapers and magazines through the end of the Second World War.
Recent events
- 2017
Ullstein launches the Ullstein Five imprint[1]
Product launch
The new imprint was introduced for socially relevant, accessible stories by German authors and drew its name from the five Ullstein brothers.
- 2003
Ullstein book-publishing assets are divided between Random House and Bonnier[1]
M&A · Regulation
A Federal Cartel Office-reviewed transaction transferred selected publishing houses to Random House and the remaining Ullstein book group to Bonnier.
- 1956
Axel Springer takes control of the newspaper business[1]
M&A · Leadership change
Axel Springer acquired a stake in Ullstein and took over the newspaper-publishing branch, later becoming the majority shareholder of the wider company.
- 1937
Ullstein Verlag is renamed Deutscher Verlag[1]
Regulation · Other
The Nazi-controlled publishing operation adopted the name Deutscher Verlag and became affiliated with the Nazi Party’s Franz Eher Nachfolger publishing organization.
Sources1 sources
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