Axel Springer: 100th birthday of the publishing house founder celebrated
Berlin: Music and theater instead of speeches and opening remarks: On Wednesday, the Axel Springer publishing house celebrated the 100th birthday of its founder with an elaborately staged revue.
Around 1,000 guests from the worlds of politics, business and the media were treated to a journey through the life of Axel Springer (1912-1985) with actors, singers and dancers at the Axel Springer House in Berlin. Actor Herbert Knaup played the publisher, Leslie Malton his wife Friede Springer - who was sitting in the audience at the birthday gala.
Among the guests at the ceremony were Federal President Joachim Gauck, Minister of State for Culture Bernd Neumann (CDU), Economics Minister Philipp Rösler (FDP), Labor Minister Ursula von der Leyen (CDU) and former Federal President Richard von Weizsäcker.
Berlin's Governing Mayor Klaus Wowereit (SPD), former Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher (FDP), presenter Thomas Gottschalk and singer-songwriter Wolf Biermann also attended the surprise birthday revue. Guest appearances were made by singers Udo Lindenberg and Max Raabe as well as former "Tagesschau" spokesman Wilhelm Wieben. (SDA/DAPD)
(Image detail: Keystone)
