After returning from captivity in an American prisoner of war camp in 1947, Reinhard Mohn takes over the running of the company from his father, and establishes a new era in the company’s history in 1950 with the founding of the Lesering book club: the postwar economic miracle comes to Gütersloh. The basis for the company’s rise to become today's global media and services group is created. The Lesering’s success makes it possible for Mohn to pursue entrepreneurial initiatives in areas like member support, music, direct selling, technology and logistics. Growth paves the way for future internationalization, diversification into other media sectors, such as buying a stake in the Hamburg publishing house Gruner + Jahr. At the same time, Reinhard Mohn ensures the systematic development of the corporate culture of partnership. To this day profit participation, employee surveys and the extensive delegation of responsibility are visible manifestations of this sense/spirit of community/solidarity at Bertelsmann.