Franz von Hipper Biography and Timeline

Bombing of Scarborough

Conducts an air raid on Scarborough

Role range: 1914-1918

Dogger Bank Raid Objective Set

Hipper sails with battlecruisers, Blücher, light cruisers and destroyers to strike British forces around Dogger Bank.

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Dogger Bank

Hipper's squadron, sent to attack British fishing vessels and patrols, is intercepted by Beatty. SMS Blücher is sunk while the surviving German battlecruisers escape.

Role range: 1914-1918

Blücher Left Behind during German Escape

Hipper's faster battlecruisers continue their withdrawal while the crippled Blücher falls farther behind.

Role range: 1914-1918

British Force Sighted at Dogger Bank

Hipper recognises that stronger British forces are approaching and prepares to withdraw toward Germany.

Role range: 1914-1918

German Battlecruisers Concentrate Fire on HMS Lion

Hipper directs concentrated German fire against Beatty's flagship HMS Lion, causing serious damage.

Role range: 1914-1918

German Squadron Orders Retreat

Hipper turns southeast toward home after discovering that Beatty's battlecruiser force outguns his squadron.

Role range: 1914-1918

SMS Blücher Slows German Withdrawal

The slower armoured cruiser SMS Blücher prevents Hipper's squadron from escaping at the speed of its battlecruisers.

Role range: 1914-1918

SMS Seydlitz Heavily Hit

Hipper's flagship SMS Seydlitz is heavily hit, causing a dangerous fire near its aft turrets and magazines.

Role range: 1914-1918

Seydlitz Magazine Disaster Narrowly Avoided

Emergency action prevents the fire aboard Seydlitz from reaching its magazines and destroying the battlecruiser.

Role range: 1914-1918

Seydlitz Moltke and Derfflinger Escape

Hipper escapes with Seydlitz, Moltke and Derfflinger after British fire shifts toward the damaged Blücher.

Role range: 1914-1918

Sinking of SMS Blücher - German Rearguard

Blücher fell behind the German battlecruisers after heavy British fire and was overwhelmed during the withdrawal from Dogger Bank.

Role range: 1914-1918

Sinking of SMS Blücher

SMS Blücher, slower than Hipper's battlecruisers, falls behind during the retreat and is sunk by British fire.

Role range: 1914-1918

German Flash-Protection Reforms Follow Dogger Bank

The near-loss of Seydlitz leads Germany to improve anti-flash precautions and ammunition handling aboard major warships.

Role range: 1914-1918

Battle of Jutland

Leads 5 cruisers along the Jutland Peninsula to break the British North Sea blockade. Hipper & Beattys destroyers see each other & the Germans entice the British fleet. Germans have 16 Dreadnoughts, 6 pre-Dreadnoughts, 11 light cruisers & 72 destroyers

Role range: 1914-1918

Rebellion of Rebels in Kiel

A suicidal mission to attack the British fleet triggers off the Kiel mutiny

Rebellion of Rebels in Kiel

A suicidal mission to attack the British fleet triggers off the Kiel mutiny

Rebellion of Rebels in Kiel

A suicidal mission to attack the British fleet triggers off the Kiel mutiny

Role range: 1914-1918

Commander of High Seas Fleet

Appointed Commander of the High Seas Fleet, replaces Scheer

Commander of High Seas Fleet

Appointed Commander of the High Seas Fleet, replaces Scheer

Role range: 1914-1918