The Ernst Braun Family Papers

Ernst Friedrich Braun was born on August 26, 1914 in a small town in Germany. He immigrated to the United States in his teens and eventually became a naturalized citizen.

In 1941, Braun joined the United States Army, where he became a corporal and later a captain. He was a member of the three different infantry divisions, the 84th, the 100th, and the 26th. During his time in the European theater, Braun helped liberate several Nazi occupied towns and labor camps. He often acted as a translator between his superior officers and German soldiers, making safe travel through enemy terrority possible. His translation skills and peacekeeping earned him a Bronze Metal in 1945.

Braun married Marjorie Silverstein in 1941. Their daughter, Stephanie Ann, was born in 1944 during his time overseas. After the war, the Braun family moved to Decatur, Georgia. They joined Congregation Ahavath Achhim and remained active members of their community. The 1980s, Braun partipated in Emory University's "Witness to the Holocaust" project. He gave an oral history of his military service during WWII as well as his experience visiting his German hometown for the first time in 10 years.

Braun passed on May 21, 2002.