Scheer was born in Obernkirchen, Germany. He entered the navy in 1879, becoming Kapitn zur See in 1905 and Rear Admiral in 1910.
Scheer became chief of the High Seas Fleet in January 1916. On May 30, he lead 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.
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.
ReinhardScheer (September 30, 1863 – November 26, 1928) was a Vice-admiral in the German navy.
A strict disciplinarian, Scheer was popularly known in the Navy as the “Man in the Iron Mask” due to his severe appearance.
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).
Scheer was born on 30 September 1863 in Obernkirchen, Hanover.
On 8 August 1918Scheer was appointed Chief of the Admiralty Staff - that is, as head of the Naval Supreme Command - replacing Holtzendorff (reluctantly agreed upon by the Kaiser) and belatedly imposing a unified command structure upon the navy.
Reinhardt Scheer, who was the recipient of both the Pour le Merite and the Oakleaves, died on 26 November 1928 in Marktredwitz at the age of 65.