The III Battle Squadron was organized in 1913 as the new "Kaiser"-class battleships began to enter service, and it was fully stood up by November 1914, when the last "König"-class ship joined the unit. The III Squadron led the German battle line during all of the major operations during World War I. These included the support missions for the battlecruisers of the I Scouting Group as they bombarded the British coast in attempts to lure out part of the British Grand Fleet, such as the raids on Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby in December 1914 and on Yarmouth and Lowestoft in April 1916. At the Battle of Jutland in May 1916, the III Squadron battleships bore the brunt of British gunfire; the flagship "König" was hit several times by heavy-caliber shells and damaged badly, but she nevertheless remained in action and returned to port for repairs.