After the takeover of the Nazis in March 1933, Brauer was production manager at the UFA.
Between April 1939 and November 1940 Brauer was production chief of Terra Film.
At the beginning of 1940, Brauer was assigned by Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels to produce the anti-Semitic film Jud Süß (1940).
Brauer assigned himself the task of directing the film; however, he ran into difficulties in casting.
Frustrated at the delay, Goebbels removed him in favor of Veit Harlan.