Tilda Braun was the wife of farmer Jurgen Braun. During the Thirty Years' War, in May 1631 Tilda and her family fell victim to Spanish mercenaries in the employ of Count Tilly. Tilda was brutally gang-raped by the mercenaries as her husband was forced to watch after being crucified to the door frame of their home. Fortunately, Tilda was saved by the American posse led by Michael Stearns. However, Tilda was deeply traumatized by her rape and was taken to Grantville, where she began recuperating at the high school. There she was reunited with her daughter Anna, who had been sheltered and looked after by George Blanton, but was emotionally unresponsive to her daughter.