I. Aufklärungsgruppe

Scouting Group I was the nearest analogue to the Royal Navy's opposing Battle Cruiser Fleet. By wartime, it generally consisted of the German battlecruisers and was often screened and supported in operations by II. Aufklärungsgruppe, which was primarily light cruisers.

August, 1914

• S.M.S. Seydlitz
• S.M.S. Moltke
• S.M.S. Von der Tann

Command of the I. Aufklärungsgruppe

• Konteradmiral Ludwig Borckenhagen, 1 March, 1903 - 21 September, 1903.
• Konteradmiral Gustav Schmidt, 22 September, 1903 - 28 September, 1906.
• Konteradmiral Hugo von Pohl, 29 September, 1906 - 30 September, 1907.
• Vizeadmiral August von Heeringen, 1 October, 1907 - 14 September, 1910.
• Vizeadmiral Gustav von Bachmann, 15 September, 1910 - 30 September, 1913.
• Vizeadmiral Franz Ritter von Hipper, 1 October, 1913 – 11 August, 1918.
• Konteradmiral Ludwig von Reuter, 11 August, 1918 – 17 November, 1918.

Note: Hipper was promoted to Vizeadmiral, 17/5/1915.
Awarded Ordré Pour le Mérite on 5/6/1916 and noble title with the Königlich Bayerischer Militär-Max-Joseph-Orden on 6/6/1916.