In its early years, the publisher focused on the humanistic traditions of German culture, specializing in exile and anti-fascist literature, along with works on literary and philosophical topics.

[1] On August 16, 1945, Kurt Wilhelm, Heinz Willmann, Klaus Gysi, and Otto Schiele founded the “Aufbau-Verlags-Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung” as trustees on behalf of the recently established Kulturbund zur demokratischen Erneuerung Deutschlands.

Paragraph 4 of the company agreement stipulated that the interests of the Kulturbund must be safeguarded as long as the organization's journals and sponsored publications were issued by Aufbau.

[2] The military authority supported the publishing house and ensured the allocation of sufficient quantities of printing paper, which was difficult to procure after the Second World War.

The subsequent legal proceedings against the BvS, the time required for these efforts, and the considerable costs severely impacted the publishing house.