In December 1914 Admiral Franz von Hipper and the First High Seas Fleet bombarded the costal towns of Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby. The attack killed 18 civilians and created a great deal of anger against Germany and the Royal Navy for failing to protect the British coast.

Admiral Hipper planned to make another raid on 23rd January, 1915, but this time his fleet was intercepted by Admiral David Beatty and six battlecruisers and a flotilla of destroyers. The British shells damaged the ships, Sydlitz and Blucher but the German's retaliated and damaged Beatty's flag ship, the Lion . Afterwards, both sides afterwards claimed the Battle of Dogger Bank as a victory.