Battle of the Heligoland Bight (1939) but it produced co-operation difficulties. A solution to the problem was twofold. Fighter units defending the North Sea coast were subordinated to "Luftgaukommando" XI (Air District Command 9) in Hanover. These fighter units would function as an autonomous fighter command, or "Jagdfliegerführer" (Fighter Flyer Leaders). The command of Fighter Command unit was given to "Oberstleutnant" Carl-August Schumacher, a former commander of II./"Jagdgeschwader" 77. Schumacher had served in the "Kaiserliche Marine" (Imperial German Navy) during the First World War and as an officer cadet had seen combat at the Battle of Jutland. It was hoped with his naval background and easy
Night action at the Battle of Jutland more to the north of the British ships. "Westfalen" at the head of the 1st Battle Squadron now led the revised column of battleships, followed by the III Battle Squadron and then the pre-dreadnought II Battle Squadron. The II Scouting Group of cruisers was placed ahead of the battleships, while the IV Scouting Group was similarly placed to starboard. The IV SG under Commodore Ludwig von Reuter mistook its position in the dark, so ending up on the port side of the battle line rather than starboard. The battlecruisers were ordered to take positions at the rear behind II Squadron,