Bernhardt was the responsible editor for science fiction, fantasy and horror first at Pabel, then for Moewig, and finally for Pabel-Moewig after the merger of the publishing houses until the end of his working life in the end of 1981. He initiated the Perry Rhodan & Atlan series and supervised the other magazines & publication series as chief editor. He also injected plot ideas (the 1979 essay by Voltz states as an example that a fundamental part of 'PR Zyklus 12: Die Aphilie' was built upon one of Bernhardt's ideas).