| Hans Hanke | |
|---|---|
| Born | 13 March 1912 Gleiwitz Gliwice, Silesia |
| Died | 13 August 1981 (aged 69) Goslar, |
| Allegiance | Nazi Germany |
| Service/branch | Waffen SS |
| Years of service | 1939–1945 |
| Rank | Obersturmbannführer |
| Unit | 13th Waffen Mountain Division of the SS Handschar (1st Croatian) |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Iron Cross I Class Iron Cross II Class German Cross in Gold |
Hans Hanke (Johannes Reinhold Hanke) (13 March 1912 — 13 August 1981) was a Obersturmbannführer (Lieutenant Colonel) in the Waffen SS during World War II. He received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership by Nazi Germany during World War II.
Hans Hanke was born on the 13 March 1912 in Gleiwitz Gliwice, Silesia. He joined the General SS in 1933 and the Waffen-SS in 1935. He was awarded his first combat decoration during the Battle of France in June 1940. He saw combat in Poland, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, the Balkans, the USSR, Croatia, and South West Hungary. He became commander of the 28th Waffen Gebirgsjager Regiment, 13th Waffen Mountain Division of the SS Handschar (1st Croatian)13th Waffen Mountain Division of the SS Handschar (1st Croatian), was awarded the Croatian Iron Trefoil II Class and, near the end of the war in May 1945, the Knight's Cross. He survived the war, and was a POW with the US Armed Forces in Nurnberg-Langwasser. Since 1955 he was employed by the Kurt Jacques Company, Rheinhausen, of which he became manager/director. In the late 1960s he worked as a project engineer at the construction of Ashuganj Power Station (Bangladesh frm. East Pakistan). He died in Goslar on 13 August 1981.[1][2][3]