About Your Guide: Historian & Battlefield Expert — Alexander Braun______________________
Alexander Braun was born in Würzburg, Germany, with a lifelong passion for World War II history.
His path to becoming a Normandy tour expert is rooted not in travel marketing, but in decades of research, writing, and military service.
Academic & Professional Background
Alexander studied history and later earned a Master’s degree in marketing from Würzburg University.
He served in an armored division of the West German Army, gaining firsthand insight into military structure and tactics.
After his military service and studies Alexander worked for 30 years in marketing and public relations for major US companies, giving him deep cross-cultural communication skills ideal for American visitors.
He served in an armored division of the West German Army, gaining firsthand insight into military structure and tactics.
After his military service and studies Alexander worked for 30 years in marketing and public relations for major US companies, giving him deep cross-cultural communication skills ideal for American visitors.
Author, Historian and Guide
In 2011, Alexander published his first
guidebook to the Normandy landings, available in both English and German. Since then, he has continued to publish and contribute to history projects, including co-authoring
Managing and Interpreting D-Day’s Sites of Memory – Guardian of Remembrance in 2016.
His work is based on years of archival research and battlefield study, making his guidance both deeply informed and broadly contextualized.
As an author, historian and guide, Alexander is specializing in:
– The Normandy landings (Operation Overlord)
– German and Allied units in Normandy
– Battlefield topography and defensive systems
– Memory culture and historical interpretation of World War II
Guiding Experience & Guiding Philosophy
Since 2012, Alexander has led hundreds of visitors from the United States, Canada, the UK, Germany, and across Europe. He also guides for the German War Grave Association (Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge). The tours emphasize historical accuracy, clarity, and respectful interpretation.
They aim to explain how large historical events were shaped by individual decisions, geography, and human experience. In addition, Alexander offers virtual tours in the off-season together with his friend and fellow tour guide Sean Claxton.
Alexander also lectures for the German Army Reserve as part of their historical education programme.
Balanced & Contextual Interpretation
Alexander brings a comparative perspective — explaining both Allied and German operational perspectives, strategy, and battlefield decision-making. His goal is not just to show locations, but to help you understand the human experiences behind the history.
Media & consultancy involvement
In 2019, 2021, and in 2023 Alexander featured on WW2 television’s YouTube channel* of his friend Paul "Woody" Woodadge in the series "The Germans on D-Day" , "Surrender in Cherbourg"
and
In 2023, Alexander served as a historical and linguistic consultant for the World War II strategy game Classified: France ’44,
advising the German localization team on historical accuracy and terminology. Official YouTube mission overview for Classified France 44
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