Walter HANKE

Walter Hanke was a German-born striker, and he spent a number of years with Breslauer FV06 in the Bundesliga, where he had the nickname "Dackel" (The Dachshund), before moving to France in 1933. He had a great spell with Le Havre in the Second Division, scoring 11 goals in 13 matches in his second season at the Normandy club. Clinical in front of goal, he was recruited by Metz, who were in the First Division at the time, in 1935. He made 53 appearances, scoring 19 goals during his two seasons at the club. In 1937, he signed for Second Division side Stade Rennais, and was a regular member of the starting line-up during his two years in Brittany. He achieved a respectable return of 21 goals from 57 matches in that time. Hanke was a trained professional carpenter, and after hanging up his boots for good, he returned to Germany to pursue a new career in his trained vocation. It should be noted that he made one appearance for the German national team against Norway in 1930, scoring a goal into the bargain.