Germany not only boasts a rich history of modern book printing but also serves as the economic hub of Europe and the headquarters for numerous large book publishers and publishing groups. The following companies represent a confluence of publishers operating in the German market, potentially paving the way for aspiring authors.
  1. Lübbe Bastion
    Bastei Lübbe AG, founded in 1949 by Gustav Lübbe, stands as a Cologne-based publishing group with approximately 330 employees. Under the leadership of Carel Halff and Robert Stein, it has emerged as one of Germany's largest publishing groups, generating an annual revenue of around 140 million euros. Bastei Lübbe specializes in both fiction and non-fiction, encompassing genres like suspense, fantasy, women's literature, history, and more. The publishing group includes approximately 20 different publishers, imprints, and companies.
  2. Beuth Verlag
    Beuth Verlag, a subsidiary of the German Institute for Standardization (DIN), traces its origins to 1924. Currently headed by Mario Schacht and Marion Winkenbach, the company employs roughly 180 individuals and boasts an annual turnover exceeding 70 million euros. Beuth Verlag focuses on standardization documents and technical specialist information, offering book series, loose-leaf works, online services, and magazines. They maintain an extensive inventory, providing access to over 200,000 documents and publications.
  3. CH Beck Verlag
    Located in Munich, CH Beck Verlag has a workforce of approximately 650 people, achieving an annual turnover of nearly 204 million euros. Helmed by Hans Dieter Beck and Dr. Jonathan Beck, the family-owned business boasts a selection of about 9,000 titles and collaborates with the largest German book and magazine publishers. The core of their publishing program revolves around non-fiction, spanning topics such as history, biographies, art, natural sciences, philosophy, politics, psychology, and more. Literary works are also a significant part of their portfolio, featuring German-language literature, international works, and poetry.
  4. Cornelsen Publishing
    Cornelsen, one of the largest textbook publishers in Germany, records annual sales of 260 million euros and employs approximately 1,300 people. Established in Berlin in 1946, the company is currently led by Meeuwis van Arkel, Joachim Herbst, Mark van Mierle, Patrick Neiss, and Frank Thalhofer. Cornelsen specializes in educational media, covering early childhood education, primary and secondary school, vocational training, and adult education. They often seek new authors, with submission instructions available on their respective websites.
  5. Droemer Knaur
    Droemer Knaur is a Munich-based publishing group encompassing the publishers Droemer, Knaur, Pattloch Verlag, and OW Barth. The company's history dates back to 1846 when Theodor Knaur transformed the Leipzig steam bookbindery into a publishing house. Currently managed by Bernhard Fetsch, Doris Jahnsen, and Josef Röcke, Droemer Knaur offers a diverse selection of memoirs, historical novels, crime novels, women's entertainment, political non-fiction, biographies, and a wide range of guides.
  6. Velcro Group
    The Stuttgart-based Ernst Klett Aktiengesellschaft, known as the Klett Group, is a globally active consortium of numerous companies in the education sector. Founded in 1897, the group employs over 6,600 individuals, with an annual turnover of 750 million euros. The most prominent part of the Klett Group is the Ernst Klett school book publisher, specializing in learning materials for general schools, vocational schools, and adult education.
  7. Fischer Publishing Group
    S. Fischer Verlag, founded by Samuel Fischer in Berlin in 1886, currently operates from Frankfurt am Main. Under the direction of Siv Bublitz, the Fischer publishing group encompasses publishers like Krüger, Fischer Taschenbuch, Scherz, and Fischer FJB, along with a children's and youth book publisher. Their publishing program includes works by German-speaking contemporary authors and non-fiction books covering various topics such as history, politics, psychology, natural and social sciences.
  8. Haufe Group
    The Haufe Group, headquartered in Freiburg im Breisgau, is a leading provider of digital workplace solutions and services in Germany. Established in 1951, the company, with approximately 2,000 employees and an annual revenue of 407 million euros, primarily focuses on publishing books and eBooks in fields such as human resources, real estate, management, marketing, accounting/controlling, public administration, and associations.
  9. Holtzbrink Publishing Group
    Holtzbrink Publishing Group, a decentralized family holding company based in Stuttgart, employs nearly 4,000 individuals and reported total sales of 1.223 billion euros in 2016. Under the leadership of Stefan von Holtzbrink, the book division includes German general interest publishers like S. Fischer Verlag, Rowohlt Verlag, Kiepenheuer & Witsch, Droemer Knaur, and Argon Verlag, each offering a vast publishing program.
  10. Mair Dumont
    MairDumont GmbH & Co. KG, located in Ostfildern near Stuttgart, stands as the largest German publishing group specializing in travel. Overseen by Volkmar Mair, Stephanie Mair-Huydts, and Frank Mair, the family business generates an annual revenue of around 101 million euros and employs over 500 people. The publishing portfolio covers travel guides, maps, magazines, city guides, outdoor guides, travel literature, and more. Among the many brands within the group, travel writers should explore the publishers Dorling Kindersley, DuMont Reiseverlag, Falk, Lonely Planet, and Marco Polo.