Hermann Ludwig Blankenburg (14 November 1876 in Thamsbrück – 15 May 1956 in Wesel) was a German composer of military marches.

Blankenburg taught himself to play various instruments including bassoon, tuba, and violin and he conducted his school orchestra at the age of ten.

He served actively in the military for two years (1896–1898), playing tuba in the band of the 6th Field Artillery Regiment in Breslau.

Hawkes chose Blankenburg's march as the winner, from over 500 submitted, with the proviso the title be changed from "Deutschlands Fürsten" (Germany's Princes) to "Abschied der Gladiatoren" (The Gladiators' Farewell).

The highest known opus number is 1275 (the march "Semper Paratus" likely published in 1936[citation needed]) and the lowest is 9 (for "Fliegerhelden Marsch").

A few months before his 81st birthday, Blankenburg intended to compose another march, but he died in Wesel in 1956 before completing the piece.

Composer and arranger Gay Corrie has said it is difficult to tell his marches apart but found the euphonium countermelodies and woodwind figures admirable[citation needed].

Commander Charles Brendler of the United States Navy Band 1942-1962 considered him the greatest march writer who ever lived[citation needed].

In 1976, Wesel changed the name of the street where he lived from Gartenstrase to Blankenburg-strasse to commemorate the 100th anniversary of his birth.