German media mogul, journalist and publisher. After WW2, he was one of the first to receive a newpaper license from the British administration in Hamburg, and started the Hamburger Abendblatt newspaper in 1946. In 1952, Springer started the publication of the tabloid Bild, becoming the daily newspaper for millions in Germany and an important influence on public opinion. He went on to launch and acquire a string of papers and magazines characterised by entertainment and conservative politics, Die Welt among others. His papers held a distinct pro-Israel point of view, whenever the subject came up. In the late 1960s, Springer was attacked by the radical-leftist student movement for the political opinion pushed forward via Bild and the other Springer media and became a goal of protest marches and direct actions.
The Axel Springer AG today is one of the major magazine, newspaper and online media companies in Europe with over 230 newspapers and magazines as well as more than 80 online offerings.
Springer’s son Axel jr. was born on 7 Feb. 1941, he became a photographer and photo journalist, working under the pseudonym Sven Simon. Sven Simon committed suicide on 3 Jan 1980 on a park bench in Hamburg.
Manfred Gregor writes that Springer consulted frequently with his astrologer, which probably was Hans Genuit, who also advised on the date for starting ‘Bild’.
Springer died in West Berlin on 22 Sep 1985. His heiress is his fifth (and last) wife Friede Springer (born 1942).
DeutschVerleger, gründet den wohl einflussreichsten Verlag der BRD, dem insbesondere BILD, WELT, HÖRZU angehören. Setzte keinen Schritt vor die Tür, ohne seinen Astrologen zu befragen (wahrscheinlich Hans Genuit, der auch das Gründungshoroskop von BILD in seinem Auftrag berechnete).
Link to Wikipedia biography