history

Anyone who, like Walter Blüchert, grew up in times of great hardship knows what it means to lack even the most basic necessities of life. At the same time, however, it becomes clear, especially in such times, how much strength each individual can convey when – to paraphrase Hölderlin – they extend a helping hand to a fellow human being in danger.

Walter Blüchert was born in Berlin shortly after the end of the First World War and was severely wounded as a soldier in the Second World War. During this time, he repeatedly encountered people who, with great dedication and tireless commitment, ensured that new life arose from the rubble. These encounters not only shaped his path as a successful publisher, but also guided him with confidence through difficult times and spurred him on to always give something back from his own prosperity as a philanthropist.

After the end of the Second World War, publishing manager Walter Blüchert found employment in the rapidly developing Germany at the "Weser-Kurier" newspaper in Bremen. Its publisher, Hans Hackmack, had already received a license for this from the military government of the American occupation zone in 1945.

During his time in Bremen, his pre-war interest in publishing deepened, culminating in the founding of Blüchert Publishing in Stuttgart in 1950. That same year, he acquired the German rights to publish non-comic Walt Disney titles; approximately 130 Disney books were released by 1962. From 1953 onward, Disney books were published under license through Bertelsmann's book club. Walter Blüchert also secured the rights to the first German editions of the internationally successful novels "The Famous Five" and "The Secret Seven" by Enid Blyton, one of the world's most renowned English children's authors. Even Loriot was among the first authors to entrust the publisher with the story of "Reinhold the Rhinoceros.".

In 1957, Walter Blüchert founded the "Buch und Bild" company, which focused on the commercial exploitation of rights and the mediation of copyrights; in the 1960s, he settled in Switzerland and became a financial broker, preparing high-profile corporate transfers in the West German media landscape.

Walter Blüchert found his personal happiness with Karin Damm, whom he married in Hamburg in 1959. Books also played an important role in their relationship – the young editor Karin Damm had applied to the Blüchert publishing house, which was by then based in Hamburg, and began her career there editing manuscripts. With the birth of their daughter Christine, Karin Blüchert withdrew from the publishing business and later devoted herself to charitable work.

Despite their business success – Walter Blüchert sold his company in 1968 – Walter and Karin Blüchert never forgot the difficult times during and after the war. Walter Blüchert repeatedly mentioned that he considered it his duty to stand by those in need of a helping hand.

Therefore, early on, he decided to place his assets in a foundation, guided by his deeply held Christian values – such as humility in the face of his accomplishments and gratitude towards his destiny and the people who shaped his life. In the Liechtenstein trustee Dr. Walter Keicher, Walter Blüchert found a confidant who, in the 1980s, helped lay the foundation for a foundation whose purpose is to provide direct aid to people in need. Within this parent foundation, VISELLA, based in Liechtenstein, his daughter Christine Blüchert manages and administers her father's philanthropic legacy.

The granddaughter Magdalena Blüchert runs the Karin and Walter Blüchert Memorial Foundation in Hamburg and is committed to ensuring the sustainability of the implementation of the founder's wishes.