Bernd von Brauchitsch

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Bernd von Brauchitsch
Brauchitsch at the Nuremberg trials
Birth name	Bernd von Brauchitsch
Born	30 September 1911 (1911-09-30) German Empire
Died	19 December 1974 (1974-12-20) (aged 63) West Germany
Allegiance	Weimar Republic (to 1933) Nazi Germany (to 1945)
Rank	Oberst
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Iron Cross 1st Class
Children	1
Relations	Walther von Brauchitsch, Adolf von Brauchitsch and Manfred von Brauchitsch

Bernd von Brauchitsch (30 September 1911 – 19 December 1974)^[1] was a German aristocratic Luftwaffe colonel during World War II and adjutant to Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring.

Born in 1911, as the son of

After the war, he first served as a witness to major war crimes at the Nuremberg trials, and spent the rest of his life in German steel business, working as managing director of two large Krupp-steel companies.

Biography

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Early life

Brauchitsch was born in 1911 as the eldest son of the future

In 1931, Brauchitsch joined the pilot training at the Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule (German Air Transport School) at Schleißheim. He and 29 other trainees attended what was called Kameradschaft 31 (camaraderie of 1931), abbreviated "K 31". Among the members of "K 31" were future Luftwaffe staff officers Günther Lützow, Wolfgang Falck, Günther Radusch and Hannes Trautloft. In 1932, he joined a cavalry regiment of the army, and in 1934 was promoted to lieutenant. In the same year, he transferred to the air force. He first served as a pilot at the Test Center in Rechlin, and from 1935, as a technical officer in a Stukastaffel. In 1936, he was promoted to first lieutenant and was transferred to a Stukagruppe, in Lübeck. In December that year he was promoted to squadron commander of a Stukastaffel. In 1939, he attended the air war academy in Gatow. Also, he served as an aide to the Supreme Commander of the air force, Hermann Göring. Later that year, he was promoted to captain.

World War II

In the Second World War, from May to August 1940, Brauchitsch was employed as group commander of a dive bomber unit during the

In May 1945, Brauchitsch, in accordance with Göring's orders, approached the 36th U.S. Division of the 7th American Army, as a negotiator. As a representative of Göring, he informed the Americans that Göring believed the war was over, and he was ready to surrender. Brauchitsch was then held in captivity, from which he was released in 1948 (the same year his father died). In March 1946, he was interrogated at the Nuremberg Trials as a witness to major war crimes as well as his own personal experience of Göring and top Nazi chieftains.^[2][3]

Later life

In the postwar period, Brauchitsch worked as a manager of the German GmbH construction and assembly company, and since 1956, as a member of the board, set up by the Krupp steel barons and brothers, Berthold and Harald. In 1961, he became managing director of the sister company WASAG. He was also Chairman of the National Association of Schleswig-Holstein Employers Organizations, the employers' association for the chemical industry and plastics processing in Schleswig-Holstein. In addition, he served on the board of the Confederation of German Employers' Associations.

Brauchitsch died in December 1974.

References