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Reinhard Scheer

Reinhard Scheer (September 30, 1863 – November 26, 1928) was a Vice-admiral in the German navy. He was in command of the Kaiserliche Marine High Seas Fleet at the battle of Jutland, one of the largest naval battles in history.

Scheer was born in Obernkirchen, Germany. He entered the navy in 1879, becoming Kapitän zur See in 1905 and Rear Admiral in 1910. A strict disciplinarian, Scheer was popularly known in the Navy as the “Man in the Iron Mask” due to his severe appearance.

Scheer became chief of the High Seas Fleet in January 1916. On May 30, he led the fleet into the Battle of Jutland. Although not defeating the British Royal Navy, he successfully evaded the destruction of his fleet by the numerically superior Royal Navy, his ships inflicting heavy losses upon the British. Scheer was offered a knighthood for his leadership at Jutland by German Kaiser Wilhelm II, but he turned down that offer (his subordinate at Jutland, Vice-Admiral Franz Hipper who led the battlecruisers, did not turn down such an offer and eventually became Franz Ritter von Hipper). After Jutland, Scheer did not believe anymore that the British could be defeated by the High Seas Fleet in battle, and became a strong advocate of the submarine warfare against Britain.

He retired in 1918 following the Kiel Mutiny and the ensuing revolution in Germany.

In 1899, he married Emillie Mohr. She was murdered October 9, 1920.

In 1920, Scheer's memoirs, Germany's High Seas Fleet in the World War was published in English.

In 1928, Scheer accepted an invitation to visit his old adversary at the Battle of Jutland, Admiral John Jellicoe, in England, but just prior to his trip he died in Marktredwitz. He is buried in Weimar. His tombstone just bears the dates of his life and the single word "Skagerrak".

• Admiral Reinhard Scheer

• First World War.com Who's Who: Reinhardt Scheer

• Germany's High Seas Fleet in the World War online at the War Times Journal website