Hanke was a fanatical enforcer of Nazi policy: during his rule in Breslau more than 1000 people were executed on his orders, earning him the nickname "Hangman of Breslau". On 16 November 1942, the jurisdiction of the Reich Defense Commissioners was changed from the Wehrkreis to the Gau level, and Hanke remained Commissioner only for his Gau.

27/05/2018 · Gauleiter Karl Hanke, Hangman of Breslau. 27-05-2018. gunsBlog. Karl August Hanke was born in Lauban (Lubań) in Silesia, on 24 August 1903, the son of a locomotive engineer. His older brother was killed in World War I. Hanke was too young for service in the war himself. He did, however, serve in the Reichswehr as a Zeitfreiwilliger (temporary ...

Hence, he came to be known as the “Hangman of Breslau.” Due to Hanke’s unconditional loyalty to Hitler, he was promoted to the post of “Reichsfuhrer-SS” and the chief of ‘German Police’ by Hitler on April 29, 1945.

Hanke escaped Breslau on May 5 by air. He learned he was to replace Himmler at Hitler's orders and to command the SS. For unknown reasons he went to Cezchoslovakia, where he joined the 18th SS Panzergrenadier Dvivsion "Horst Wessel" and was captured on May 6. On June 8, 1945, his true identity still undiscovered, he attempted an escape.