Deutschland was the lead ship of her class of heavy cruisers (often termed pocket battleships) which served with the Kriegsmarine of Nazi Germany during World War II. Ordered by the Weimar government for the Reichsmarine, she was laid down at the Deutsche Werke shipyard in Kiel in February 1929 and completed by April 1933. Originally classified as an armored ship (Panzerschiff) by the Reichsmarine, in February 1940 the Germans reclassified the remaining two ships of this class as heavy cruisers. In 1940, she was renamed Lützow, after the unfinished Admiral Hipper-class heavy cruiser Lützow was sold to the Soviet Union the previous year.
May 19, 1931 Launch of the Deutschland at Deutsche Werke, Kiel, GermanyMay 19, 1931 Launch of the Deutschland at Deutsche Werke, Kiel, GermanyDeutschland immediately after launching at Kiel, Germany, on 19 May 1931Deutschland fitting out, you can see the armor and internal distribution of one of the main turretsDeutschland during the commissioning ceremony at Wilhelmshaven Navy YardDeutschland undergoing heeling tests
Deutschland in 1934
Deutschland, Hamburg, June 1934
Deutschland in 1935
Deutschland Photographed very early in her career, sometime after commissioningDeutschland 18 August 1935Deutschland seen in 1935
Deutschland in 1936
Deutschland 1936
Deutschland in 1937
Deutschland Gibraltar, circa 1937-1938, during the Spanish Civil War periodDeutschland Gibraltar, circa 1937-1938, during the Spanish Civil War periodDeutschland Gibraltar, circa 1937-1938, during the Spanish Civil War periodDeutschland Gibraltar, circa 1937-1938, during the Spanish Civil War periodDeutschland 1937 after her return to German waters after serving on the Spanish Civil War neutrality patrolDeutschland 1937Deutschland 1937Deutschland seen in May 1937
Deutschland in 1939
Deutschlan1939, before World War II.Deutschland 1939Deutschland 1939
Lützow in 1940 and Torpedo Damage
Deutschland In port during the winter of 1939-1940Lützow waits for salvage tugs to arrive after HMS Spearfish hit her stern with a Mk VIII torpedo at 02 00 am. Skagerrak, 11 April 1940Lutzow with stern collapsed following a torpedo attack
Lützow in 1942
Lützow Norwegian waters May 16, 1942Lützow seen in a Norwegian Fjord on 1942.
Lützow in 1943
Lützow in Langfjord, Norway, July 1943
Lützow in 1945
Lützow in Kaiserfahrt canal on 25 April 1945
Undated photos of Deutschland and Lützow
Aerial view looking down at LützowDeutschlandDeutschlandDeutschlandDeutschlandLutzow
