Karl Hanke | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Hanke in February 1945 | |
| 5th Reichsführer-SS | |
| In office 29 April 1945 – 8 May 1945 | |
| President | Adolf Hitler Karl Dönitz |
| Chancellor | Adolf Hitler Joseph Goebbels Lutz Graf Schwerin von Krosigk |
| Preceded by | Heinrich Himmler |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| Chief of the German Police | |
| In office 29 April 1945 – 8 May 1945 | |
| Preceded by | Heinrich Himmler |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| Gauleiter of Gau Lower Silesia | |
| In office 27 January 1941 – 8 May 1945 | |
| Appointed by | Adolf Hitler |
| Preceded by | New Gau created |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| Oberpräsident of the Province of Lower Silesia | |
| In office 1 February 1941 – 8 May 1945 | |
| Preceded by | Office created |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| State Secretary for the Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda | |
| In office 26 November 1937 – 27 January 1941 | |
| Appointed by | Adolf Hitler |
| Preceded by | None |
| Succeeded by | Leopold Gutterer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Karl August Hanke 24 August 1903 Lauban, Province of Silesia, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire |
| Died | 8 June 1945 (aged 41) Neudorf, Ústí nad Labem Region, Czechoslovakia |
| Political party | Nazi Party |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | Berufspädagogisches Institut, Berlin |
| Profession | Politician |
Karl August Hanke (24 August 1903 – 8 June 1945) was an official of the Nazi Party (NSDAP) during its rule over Germany who served as the fifth and final Reichsführer of the Schutzstaffel (SS). He also served as Gauleiter of Gau Lower Silesia from 1941 to 1945 and as Oberpräsident of the Prussian Province of Lower Silesia. Captured on 6 May 1945, he was shot and wounded during an escape attempt and then beaten to death by Czech guards on 8 June, after the war had ended.