"Frauenlob" was recommissioned into the fleet on 2 August 1914 as a result of the outbreak of World War I. She was initially assigned to III Scouting Group before being transferred to the newly-created IV Scouting Group on 25 August. When the British raided the German defensive patrols in the Helgoland Bight on 28 August, resulting in the Battle of Heligoland Bight, "Frauenlob" was anchored off Helgoland as distant support of the patrol line. The British raiders—the Harwich Force—consisted of two light cruisers and thirty-three destroyers under Commodore Reginald Tyrwhitt. "Frauenlob" received reports of the attack at 08:00 from returning picket boats. At about 09:00, "Frauenlob" and the light cruiser were sent out to reinforce the beleaguered German patrols.