Admiral Franz von Hipper
Prior to the First World War Hipper led the High Seas Fleet Scouting Forces from 1912 onwards. With war declared Hipper often lurked in the dangerous North Sea with his Battlecruiser Squadron, and met with success during raids in the early stages of the war.
Following the raid at Scarborough in December 1914, at which the Royal Navy was - at least so far as the press and popular opinion were concerned - caught napping, a determined effort was made to find and destroy Hipper's squadron.
Having decided to try and repeat his earlier success at Scarborough, Hipper was in the process of sailing to Britain in January 1915 when, following the interception of radio traffic, the British led by Admiral Beatty, intercepted him at the Battle of Dogger Bank.
By a combination of luck and skill Hipper escaped, and next came to prominence when his squadron opened the hostilities at the Battle of Jutland of 31st May 1916, where he succeeded in inflicting severe damage on Beatty's squadron and, towards the close of the battle, saved Admiral Scheer's fleet by a remarkably bold charge towards Jellicoe's battleships.
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