Scheurlen was selected to remain in the German navy, which was then the Reichsmarine, after the war and became a specialist in naval and coastal artillery.

After the invasion of Russia he served on the naval staff in the Crimea, commanding a fleet during the evacuation of German troops from the Caucasus in 1943.

In February 1945, with Germany being invaded Scheurlen was placed in command of a division hastily formed from surplus naval personnel and was killed in action.

Scheurlen was to have commanded a transport fleet during Operation Sea Lion, the planned (and cancelled) German invasion of Britain.

Following the German invasion of Russia Scheurlen served on the naval staff in the Crimea and in that role was promoted to the rank of rear admiral on 1 April 1942.

[1] Scheurlen commanded the transports and escorts used for the evacuation of 105,000 men, 45,000 horses, 12,000 wagons and 7,000 motorised vehicles from the Caucasus between January and March 1943 as a result of Russian offensives.

The division was hastily formed in Schleswig-Holstein from surplus naval personnel to serve on land in the defence of Germany from Allied invasion.