Victor Stantke

Major General Victor Paul Hildebrandt Stantke, (15 August 1886 – 1967) was a senior officer in the Australian Army, serving during the First World War and Second World War. His appointments were mainly to staff and administrative postings, including holding the position of Adjutant-General from 1940 to 1943, and commander Queensland Lines of Communication Area from 1943 to 1946.

Early life and First World War Stantke was born in Fitzroy, Victoria, on 15 August 1886. Educated at the University of Melbourne, he served in the Australian Military Forces as a senior cadet from 1906, and was commissioned through this scheme, reaching the rank of captain by 1909. However, after working as teacher at Brighton Grammar School, in 1911 he relinquished his previous rank and joined the Permanent Military Forces. In the Permanent Force, he was appointed to the Administrative and Instructional Staff (A & I Staff), as a lieutenant, in 1919 he served as Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General, 1st Division before returning to Australia later that year. In 1928 Stanke, by then a major, was part of a committee which examined the mechanization of the Australian Military Forces. Later postings included that of Director, Organization and Personnel Services, and Director, Mobilization at Army Headquarters in Melbourne from 1933 to 1935, during which time he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. In 1936 and 1937 he undertook training in Great Britain at the Senior Officers' School in Sheerness. and of the Australian Army Education Service (AAES). In 1943 he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Yet, the Commander-in-Chief, General Sir Thomas Blamey, reportedly had not been "satisfied" with Stantke's performance as Adjutant-General and he was replaced by Major General Charles Lloyd. Blamey had felt that Stantke was "obstructionist and was unwilling to visit forward areas, or even leave Melbourne." Stantke subsequently served as commander of the Queensland Lines of Communication Area during 1943–46.

Retirement Stantke retired from the permanent forces in 1946. He died in 1967.