 After the outbreak of World War I in August 1914 , Niobe was recommissioned for coastal defense , stationed in the German Bight . Between 28 August to 2 September , and from 23 December , Niobe 's commander also served as the commander of the torpedo @-@ boat flotillas defending the Jade Bight and the mouth of the Weser . She was removed from front @-@ line service on 5 September 1915 , and her crew was reduced four days later . The commander of the torpedo @-@ boat flotillas returned to Niobe on 14 January 1916 , as his previous flagship , the old coastal defense ship Siegfried , was decommissioned . Niobe nevertheless remained in service with a reduced crew . Kommodore ( Commodore ) Ludwig von Reuter , the commander of the IV Scouting Group , and his staff briefly used Niobe as a headquarters ship , from 6 June to 3 July . Starting on 20 August , she became the headquarters ship for now @-@ Konteradmiral ( Rear Admiral ) von Hipper , the commander of the I Scouting Group . 
