 In early January 1915 the German naval command found out that British ships were conducting reconnaissance in the Dogger Bank area . Admiral Ingenohl was initially reluctant to attempt to destroy these forces , because the I Scouting Group was temporarily weakened while Von der Tann was in drydock for periodic maintenance . Konteradmiral ( counter admiral ) Richard Eckermann — the Chief of Staff of the High Seas Fleet — insisted on the operation , and so Ingenohl relented and ordered Hipper to take his battlecruisers to the Dogger Bank . 
