Johannes Reinhold Hanke (13 March 1912 – 13 August 1981) was an SS-Obersturmbannführer (lieutenant colonel) in the Waffen SS during World War II.

[citation needed] Hanke joined the staff of the 13th Waffen Mountain Division of the SS Handschar (1st Croatian) as a SS-Hauptsturmführer (captain) in May 1943 and commanded the all-German divisional signals battalion during its formation and training.

[1] In July 1943, the division concentrated in southern France for further training, and the signals battalion was garrisoned in Mende with divisional headquarters.

[3] In September 1943, while the division was still training in southern France, a mutiny occurred in the divisional pioneer battalion garrisoned at Villefranche-de-Rouergue.

[5] During Operation Save in mid-March 1944 he led II/28 as it stormed Partisan positions at Čelić, and in October 1944 his actions during this assault were included in a recommendation for an award of the German Cross in Gold.

The divisional reconnaissance battalion, which had been thrown into the fighting a month earlier, joined the task force, but even with these reinforcements the length of the front line was too long for more than a series of company-strength strong points.

Until 20 November, when the Soviets placed pontoon bridges across the Danube and sent three divisions across at Batina, the task force was engaged in a continuous and bitter defensive fighting which caused heavy losses.

[citation needed] On the night of 21 November, the fresh Soviet 113th Rifle Division crossed the Danube and in the next 48 hours rolled straight over the top of Kampfgruppe Hanke which was driven back to Kneževi Vinogradi with only 200 of the original 1200 men remaining.