User blog comment:Neetaku/Top 5 Deaths in AOT/@comment-27821571-20160930003526/@comment-24407809-20160930201921

Yep, Hannes' was a tough one. But that's not the only reason why I put it at the top. Of all the deaths listed, Hannes' was one of the most critical ones to the story. Not only did it shed light on how important his decision to run from battle had been during Shiganshina's fall, but it was also the perfect place for his character arc to end. There ins't a more appropriate place for Hannes to die (and there isn't a more appropriate character to kill him).