The Story of The Deutschland/Lützow: Germany's First Pocket Battleship

In the early 1930s, the Treaty of Versailles restricted Germany from building large warships. To overcome this limitation, Germany came up with a unique concept—a Panzerschiff. These vessels would be smaller than traditional battleships but pack a formidable punch. The Deutschland-class cruisers were designed with a balance of speed, firepower, and range. With a displacement of 10,000 tons, they were armed with six 11-inch guns, had a top speed of 28 knots. The Panzerschiff's introduced several innovative technologies. They were the first German warships to incorporate diesel engines, offering longer range and increased efficiency. Additionally, they had an armored belt that provided enhanced protection. The Deutschland played a significant role during the Spanish Civil War, enforcing a naval blockade. It then participated in non-intervention patrols and rescued German nationals. In World War II, the ship was renamed Lützow and engaged in various operations, including the invasion of Norway and commerce raiding in the Atlantic. Following repairs, Lützow served as an artillery training ship and was then converted into a heavy cruiser. The ship was scuttled in 1945 to prevent its capture by advancing Soviet forces. As a disclaimer the map animations are not entirely accurate and are there for you to get a general sense of where the ship was.
Content:
Background 0:00
Interwar 4:40
1939 9:40
1940 14:10
1941 16:27
1942 18:10
1943 20:54
1944/1945 21:40
Sources/Other Reading:

https://www.amazon.com/Pocket-Battles...

https://www.amazon.com/Big-Guns-Atlan...

https://www.amazon.com/Northern-Theat...

Video Information:
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