Oberstleutnant Wilhelm "Willi" Braun (6 February 1902 – 22 January 1943) is an avid sportsman who excelled at swimming, skiing, marksmanship and horseriding, the latter bringing him to grief in May 1939 when a fall during a tournament put him out of action for two months. He was also a keen motor enthusiast and was one of the first in his home town of Hasenweiler to own a private car. He began his career as a police officer and it lasted for 13 years, until he was transferred over to the army in October 1935. Various postings followed until he was transferred in late November 1940 into the newly-forming 305. Infanterie-Division as commander of II.Bataillon / Infanterie-Regiment 576. And he had commanded that battalion ever since. The entire summer campaign of 1942 had been difficult but it all paled into insignificance compared to the weeks in Stalingrad. When the regiment commander, Oberstleutnant Karl-Heinz Krüder, went on leave in October, and the substitute commander Oberstleutnant Werner Gunkel was transferred in late October, Braun took temporary control of the Infanterie-Regiment 576. He received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 20 January 1943 as Major and commander of II./IR 576. Braun died on 22 January 1943 at Stalingrad and was posthumously promoted to Oberstleutnant.
Source :
"Island Of Fire: The Battle For the Barrikady Gun Factory In Stalingrad November 1942 - February 1943" by Jason D. Mark
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