Werner Braune German Nazi, military man, member of the SS, Obersturmbannführer. Date of Birth: 11.04.1909 Country: Germany

Biography of Werner Braun

Werner Braun was a German Nazi, military officer, member of the SS, and an Obersturmbannführer. He was born in Mehrstedt, Thuringia and graduated from the local gymnasium in 1929. After completing his schooling, Braun studied law at the universities of Jena, Bonn, and Munich.

In 1933, Braun obtained a degree in civil law from the University of Jena, and two years prior to that, he joined the ranks of the Nazi Party. In November 1931, he became a member of the Nazi stormtroopers. Three years later, in November 1934, Braun joined the SS and became involved in the German secret police service, SD.

In 1936, Braun started collaborating with another Nazi police organization, the Gestapo. By 1938, he had become the leader of the Gestapo in Münster. His career continued to progress, and in 1940, Braun became the head of the Gestapo in Koblenz. In May 1941, he commanded units in Halle.

From October 1941 to early September 1942, Braun led one of the units of Einsatzgruppe D, working under the command of Otto Ohlendorf, who was later executed for war crimes. Interestingly, Werner's younger brother, Fritz Braun, also led one of the Einsatzgruppen units.

Under Braun's command, the unit he oversaw was responsible for the executions of Jews in Simferopol. In December 1941, a total of 14,300 people were executed. In September 1942, Braun returned to Halle and was promoted to the rank of Obersturmbannführer in the SS in 1943.

From 1943 to 1944, Braun headed the German Foreign Service Academy. In 1945, he was sent to Norway as the commander of the SD and security police forces.

After the war, Braun stood trial for his war crimes as a member of Einsatzgruppe. His trial took place before the main Nuremberg trials. However, he was unable to provide compelling arguments in his defense, claiming that he acted solely under orders from higher-ranking officials.

On April 10, 1948, Braun was sentenced to death and was hanged on June 8, 1951, in Landsberg.