A web-fed rotary printing unit having a plurality of printing mechanisms is provided. Each printing mechanism includes a form cylinder (1, 5, 16-18, 27-30), a transfer cylinder (2, 6, 3, 7, 12-15, 22-25) and a separate or common impression cylinder (3, 7, 11, 26). Stress torques acting on the drive motors can be eliminated to the greatest possible extent by providing a drive motor that has a drive connection to the further cylinders via the impression cylinder.