August Scherl

His expensive newspaper projects were not economically successful, so in 1913, Scherl informed Chancellor Bethmann-Hollweg that he was going to sell his company's shares.

The company was eventually purchased by Baron Simon Alfred Franz Emil von Oppenheim and the Cologne financier Louis Hagen of Deutscher Verlagsverein with financing of 8 million marks.

On February 5, 1914, Scherl resigned from the management, selling his shares in the German Publishers Association.

When she made a derogatory comment about the building, when driving past it, Scherl had the house demolished, without informing his wife.

The secret of his success was his readiness to take risks, understanding of economics, foresight, innovation and unwillingness to take anything on trust.