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".
Hanke gennemførte den nazistiske politik fanatisk: under hans ledelse i Breslau blev mere end 1.000 mennesker henrettet på hans ordre, hvilket gav ham tilnavnet "bødlen fra Breslau".