Reichsführer-SS's

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Requin Marteau
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Post by Requin Marteau » 09 Mar 2003, 09:47

Reichsführer-SS und Chef der deutschen Polizei
Karl August Hanke

Born: 24. August 1903 in Lauban / Schlesien,
Attended Volksschule, then Gymnasium,
Graduated from Deutsche Müllerschule in Dippoldiswalde while obtaining practical experience as apprentice in a railway workshop and in the milling industry,
Attended Berufspädagogischen Institut, Berlin,
Reichswehr service as Zeitfreiwilliger in IR 19 “von Courbiere”, Occupational instructor (1928 - 1931),
Entered NSDAP (102 606) on 1 November 1928,
Zellenobmann of NSDAP in 1929,
SA service (1929-1931),
NSDAP Unterstassenzellenleiter,
NSDAP Strassenzellenleiter in 1930,
Bezirksführer of Bezirk Westend (1931),
Gauorganisationsleiter in Berlin (1931),
Gauredner and Betriebszellenredner (1931),
Leiter of the Private Secretariat and Adjutant to Gauleiter Dr. Goebbels (1932),
Member of the Prussian Landtag on 24 April 1932,
Member of the Reichstag (Wahlkreis 3 [Potsdam II]) (6 November 1932-May 1945),
Hauptamtsleiter in the Reichspropagandaleitung of the NSDAP (1932),
Personal advisor and secretary of Dr. Joseph Goebbels (March 1933),
Joined SS(203 103) on 15 February 1934,
SS-Sturmbannführer (1 July 1934),
Führer z.b.V. SS-Abschnitt XXIII (1 July 1934-23 January 1935),
Assigned to Staff of the RF-SS (23 January 1935-29 April 1945),
SS-Obersturmbannführer (20 April 1935),
SS-Standartenführer (15 September 1935),
SS-Oberführer (20 April 1937),
2. Vizepräsident of the Reichskulturkammer (January 1937), Ministerialdirektor in the Reichsministerium für Volksaufklärung und Propaganda (April 1937-February 1938),
Training with the Reichsheer (1 November 1937-1 December 1937), Member of the Lebensborn Society (1 December 1937),
Staatssekretär in the Reichsministerium für Volksaufklärung und Propaganda (February 1938),
Heer service, assigned as volunteer to Panzer-Lehr-Regiment,
Panzerschütze (June 1939),
Führer of Kompanie in Rommel’s 7.Panzer-Division during Western Campaign (July 1939-1940),
Oberleutnant d.R. (1940),
SS-Brigadeführer (30 January 1941),
SS-Gruppenführer (20 April 1941),
Hauptmann d.R. (30 January 1942),
Gauleiter and Oberpräsident of Niederschlesien(February 1941-8 May 1945),
Reichsverteidigungskommissar of Gau Niederschlesien (16 November 1942-8 May 1945),
SS-Obergruppenführer (30 January 1944),
Reichsführer-SS und Chef der deutschen Polizei (29 April 1945-8 May 1945),
Killed 8 June 1945, in vicinity of Neudorf in Sudetenland, by Czech partisans.

- Deutsche Olympia Ehrenzeichen 1. kl,
- Goldenes Parteiabzeichen,
- Deutsches Reiterabzeichen in Silber (1938),
- Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13 März 1938,
- Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1 Oktober 1938,
- Spange «Prager Burg»,
- EK-II (1940),
- EK-I (1940),
- Verwundeten Abzeichen in Schwarz,
- Panzerkampfabzeichen in Silber (1940),
- Goldenes HJ Ehrenzeichen mit Eichenlaub (30 August 1941),
- Dienstauszeichnung d. NSDAP in Silber,
- Treudienst-Ehrenzeichen 25 jahr.
- KVK-II ohne Schwertern,
- KVK-I ohne Schwertern,
- Das Goldene Kreuz des Deutschen Ordens mit Schwertern (12 April 1945), as Gauleiter of Niederschlesien (for the defense of Festung Breslau),

Notes:
* Son of the locomotive engineer Robert Hanke. One brother (killed in action).
* Religion: Protestant.
* Foreign language proficiency: French.
* Upon leasing a villa in Berlin-Grunewald for his headquarters in July 1932, Hanke commissioned the young architect Albert Speer to refurbish it. The two became friends, and Speer owed much of his success in the Third Reich to his connection with Hanke.
* Involved in an affair with Magda Goebbels, wife of his superior, the Reichsminister for Propaganda.
* Married on 25 November 1944 to Freda Freiin von Fircks (daughter of a wealthy landowner), who bore Hanke one daughter in December 1943 (Freiin von Fircks later remarried and took the name Rössler).
* While serving as commander of a Panzer IV during the campaign in France, Hanke single-handedly engaged and drove off a French tank column that had attacked the rear of 7.Panzer-Division. Rommel recommended Hanke for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, sending the citation directly to Hitler's headquarters. Shortly thereafter, however, Hanke offended Rommel by mentioning that as a State Secretary of the Propaganda Ministry, he technically outranked a "mere" Generalmajor. In response, Rommel sent an adjutant to intercept and quash the citation, an act of spite which caused great resentment among his troops.


Amicalement
Thierry

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