Braun Family
Ursula and Gerhard Braun show yet another example of love and devotion in the terrifying atmosphere of the Third Reich. This couple, however, stands out- the two were only engaged when Gerhard was taken into custody and detained at Rosenstrasse. Having recently deciding on marriage, Gerhard was nineteen years old and considered a Geltungsjude in the eyes of Nazi law.
Both Ursula and Gerhard were half-Jewish, though Ursula was not part of the Jewish community and was not made to wear a Star of David. Gerhard, on the other hand, was targeted by the SS and taken from his home while on sick leave. In later interviews, Gerhard recalled making a chess board from a ripped section of a mattress cover and using pebbles as chess pieces. This brought up some of the men’s spirits, especially when they usually had nothing but cabbage to eat. The men at Rosenstrasse, Gerhard described, would stand in lines for hours for food in terrible conditions and be subject to sporadic roll calls by the Gestapo. He could just make out the protesting outside but remained confused and concerned.
Ursula, on hearing about Gerhard’s arrest from his mother, went immediately to Rosenstrasse: “…The only thing to do was to join the crowd and hope.” Understanding the gravity of the arrests made by Gestapo, Ursula described the feeling outside on Rosenstrasse was one of “courage of despair”. Her own sister, who can be credited with introducing Gerhard and Ursula, had been arrested by the Gestapo with her husband (Gerhard’s brother) and their two-year old son- they never heard from them again. Upon release from Rosenstrasse and the end of the war, Gerhard and Ursula were able to marry. Gerhard became a professor and the couple had five children together.
Written by Carmelina Moersch