During World War II, he was recalled to active duty as a rear admiral, and was killed when his plane crashed on takeoff close to Le Bourget Airport near Paris in 1941.

At the outbreak of the First World War, Arnauld de la Perière served as an adjutant to admiral Hugo von Pohl in Berlin.

After the end of the war, Arnauld de la Perière stayed in a vastly reduced German Navy.

Promoted to Konteradmiral Arnauld de la Perière was made naval commandant in Brittany and later for the entire western French seacoast.

Transferred to take up command of Navy Group South, he was killed on 24 February 1941 when his plane crashed on takeoff near Le Bourget Airport.