The position of Gauleiter in Lower Silesia was held by Karl Hanke throughout the short history of the Gau.[3][4] Hanke who evacuated the Gau's capital too late and, for a long time, refused its surrender during the Siege of Breslau escaped shortly before the eventual surrender of Breslau on 6 May 1945. Hanke was killed by Czech partisans after having been captured and making an escape attempt.[5]