Schäfer was born in Gorlitz and, after his secondary education, worked as a translator in German South West Africa from 1911 to 1914.

He left the Party after the failed Beer Hall Putsch in November 1923 but rejoined in August 1930 (membership number 419,439).

[3] After the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, Schäfer was posted to the Reichskommissariat Ostland where he would hold several important regional commands.

On that date he became the permanent SSPF "Weissruthenien" in Minsk and served there until 21 July when he was succeeded by SS-Brigadeführer Curt von Gottberg.

[4] On 4 October 1942, Schäfer succeeded SS-Brigadeführer Hermann Harm as SSPF "Dnjepropetrowsk-Krivoi Rog" in the Reichskommissariat Ukraine under Prützmann's command.