February 5, 1931-The keel of the Deutschland is laid down in the Deutsche Werke shipyards of Kiel.
May 19, 1931-Deutschland is launched.
April 1, 1933-Deutschland is commissioned after three months of trials. The remainder of the year is spent in trials and training.
June 9 through June 23, 1934-Deutschland is engaged in battle and weapons training with the cruiser Köln in the North Atlantic.
December 13, 1934-The Deutschland undergoes repairs in Wilhelmshaven until February 21, 1935.
March 14, 1935-The Deutschland leaves for South America as an engine endurance shakedown, arriving on April 19. After returning to Wilhelmshaven, the Deutschland enters for repairs until spring of 1936.
June 6 through June 17, 1936-After sailing around Great Britain, the Deutschland visits Copenhagen (Denmark) and undergoes battle training in the Baltic Sea.
July 24 through August 31, 1936-Deutschland joins the Admiral Scheer during the battleships first operation in Spain.
October 1 through November 21, 1936-Deutschland participates in a second operation in Spanish waters.
January 31 through March 24, 1937-Deutschland takes part in a third operation in Spanish waters before undergoing modifications and refitting until May 10.
May 1937-Deutschland is involved in a joint operation with British, American, and Italian naval forces off the Spanish coast.
May 29, 1937-Deutschland is attacked by naval ships belonging to Spanish Republican forces, damaging the battleship. The battleship is then ordered to Gibralter, where the British buried the dead soldiers, but the Germans ordered them later returned to Germany for burial.
June 12 through July 1937-Deutschland undergoes repairs and training.
October 5, 1937 through February 11, 1938-Deutschland takes part in a fifth operation in Spanish waters.
July 24 through August 15, 1938-Deutschland is involved in another Spanish operation.
September 20, 1938 through October 20, 1938-Deutschland embarks on North Atlantic battle training. The battleship also tested the new Funkmess radar system while training with German U-boats.
February 6 through February 26, 1939-Deutschland takes part a seventh Spanish operation, then joins in battle training in the North Atlantic.
April 17 through May 16, 1939-Deutschland returns to the North Atlantic for more battle training with resupply vessels.
August 1939-Deutschland operates in the North Atlantic for several months, resupplied by the tanker Westerwald.
September 27, 1937-Deutschland receives orders to begin commerce raiding and within one month, the ship sinks three merchant vessels.
November 16, 1939-Deutschland enters Gotenhafen.
December 15, 1939-Deutschland is transferred to Wilhelmshaven. The ship is then renamed to Lützow, since Adolf Hitler noticed the propaganda value for the enemy, should a ship named ‘Germany’ be sunk.
February 15, 1940-Lützow is reclassified as a heavy cruiser.
April 7, 1940-Lützow joins the Fifth Squadron throughout Operation Weserübung, the invasion of Norway, ordered to attack near Oslo.
April 8, 1940-Lützow takes over command of the Fifth Squadron after the cruiser Blücher is sunk.
April 10, 1940-Lützow enters Oslo, then is ordered to Horten for repairs, but the orders are changed and the ship departs for Kiel.
April 11, 1940-Lützow is torpedoed by the British submarine Spearfish, and is towed back to Kiel.
April 13, 1940-Lützow arrives in Kiel. Repairs on the ship last into the spring of 1941.
June 12, 1941-Lützow enters the Drontheim Fjord. Later that day, the Lützow is hit by a torpedo bomber, forcing the ship into drydock again.
January 1942-Lützow undergoes training operations in the Baltic Sea.
May 1942-Lützow is ordered to the Drontheim Fjord again, then is transferred to Narvik.
June 1942-Lützow joins the Tirpitz in attacking a British convoy, but runs against a sand bar while in the Tjeld Fjord, so the ship was moved to the Loo Fjord.
August 1942-Lützow enters Kiel for repairs.
December 1942-Lützow is in the Baltic Sea for training, then is ordered to the KåFjord after a short stay in Bow Beight.
December 30, 1942-Lützow, Admiral Hipper, Z4 Richard Beitzen, Z6 Theodor Reidel, Z16 Frederick Eckoldt, Z24, Z30, and Z31 attack convoy JW 51 B in Operation Regenbogen. The British cruisers Jamaica and Sheffield score hits on the Admiral Hipper and succeed in sinking Z16 Frederick Eckoldt, forcing the group to retire from the battle.
September 25, 1943-Lützow is again returned to Germany.
October 1, 1943-Lützow is ordered to be transferred to Libau.
February 1944-Lützow is used to train German cadets.
June 24 through July 8, 1944-Lützow, T3, T4, and T14 are assigned to escort ore transports from Sweden.
Junly 17, 1944-Lützow, T1, T4, and T12 attempt to evacuate Germans from Riga, but not enough fuel was available to make the journey. Instead, the ships provide flak cover at Libau.
August 28, 1944-Lützow enters Gotenhafen for a planned increase in anti-aircraft guns.
November 11 through November 12, 1944-Lützow, Prinz Eugen, Z25, Z35, Z36, T13, T16 and T20 support the German army at Sworde and Memel.
November 22, 1944-Lützow, Z28, Z35, T13, T20, and T21 provide bombardment cover for retreating German Army units along the coast of Memel.
December 1944 through March 1945-Lützow continues to support the German army at Memel, Danzig, and Elbing.
April 1945-Lützow enters Swinemünde
April 16, 1945-Lützow is hit by several bombs and sinks at the Mellin entrance, but several of the ships guns are still functional.
April 28, 1945-Lützow fires on Russian positions at Diefenov.
May 4, 1945-Lützow is scuttled after a fire breaks out on the ship.
Spring 1946-Lützow is salvaged by Russians.
November 26, 1946-Lützow enters the Russian naval records, slated for use as a floating gunnery target.
July 20, 1947-Lützow undergoes bombardment during the testing, using a series of experimental weapons.
July 22, 1947-Lützow is sunk.
Return to the Kriegsmarine Battleship Page Return to the Kriegsmarine Cruiser Page
Statistics:
Armament:
