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At the outbreak of World War II, the ''Deutschland'' was at sea.  After a delay, she was sent into the North Atlantic to conduct commerce raiding.  She sunk or captured three merchant ships (over 11,000 tons in total) before weather damage forced the ship to the safety of Kiel harbor, arriving on November 15, 1939.  It was on this date that the ship was renamed.  This was done partly to confuse enemy intelligence, and partly because it was felt that if a ship bearing the name of the German nation was sunk, national morale would be damaged.  Consequently, the ship was renamed in honor of Adolf Freiherr von Lutzow, one of Germany’s most distinguished military commanders from the Napoleonic Wars.

At the outbreak of World War II, the ''Deutschland'' was at sea.  After a delay, she was sent into the North Atlantic to conduct commerce raiding.  She sunk or captured three merchant ships (over 11,000 tons in total) before weather damage forced the ship to the safety of Kiel harbor, arriving on November 15, 1939.  It was on this date that the ship was renamed.  This was done partly to confuse enemy intelligence, and partly because it was felt that if a ship bearing the name of the German nation was sunk, national morale would be damaged.  Consequently, the ship was renamed in honor of Adolf Freiherr von Lutzow, one of Germany’s most distinguished military commanders from the Napoleonic Wars.

After a refit in the port of Danzig, the ''Lutzow'' was sent north as part of Operation ''Weserubung'', the German invasion of [[Norway]].  The ship was loaded with 400 Wehrmacht troops and sent to [[Oslo]] with the heavy cruiser ''Blucher'', the light cruiser ''Emden'', and three torpedo boats.  The group succeeded in capturing the Norwegian forts in Oslofiord, but shore-based batteries sunk the ''Blucher'' and damaged the ''Lutzow''.<ref>Denmark and Norway 1940, by Douglas C Dildy, Osprey Publishing, 2007</ref>  On the way home, she was intercepted by the British submarine ''Swordfish'' and hit by a torpedo which destroyed her rudder.  She was taken under tow and entered the port of Kiel in April 1940.  Between the artillery and submarine attacks, the mission had cost the ''Lutzow'' 35 dead and damage that would take almost a year to repair.

After a refit in the port of Danzig, the ''Lutzow'' was sent north as part of Operation ''Weserubung'', the German invasion of [[Norway]].  The ship was loaded with 400 Wehrmacht troops and sent to [[Oslo]] with the heavy cruiser ''[[Blucher (ship)|Blucher]]'', the light cruiser ''Emden'', and three torpedo boats.  The group succeeded in capturing the Norwegian forts in Oslofiord, but shore-based batteries sunk the ''Blucher'' and damaged the ''Lutzow''.<ref>Denmark and Norway 1940, by Douglas C Dildy, Osprey Publishing, 2007</ref>  On the way home, she was intercepted by the British submarine ''Swordfish'' and hit by a torpedo which destroyed her rudder.  She was taken under tow and entered the port of Kiel in April 1940.  Between the artillery and submarine attacks, the mission had cost the ''Lutzow'' 35 dead and damage that would take almost a year to repair.

On June 12, 1941, the ''Lutzow'', accompanied by an escort of destroyers, set out for Norway, but was hit by a torpedo from a British bomber, forcing her return to Kiel for another six months of repairs.  Bombing raids and bad weather caused delays, but the ''Lutzow'' sailed for Norway on May 15, 1942, to join the ''Admiral Scheer'' in [[Narvik]].  Both ships were sent to intercept Convoy PQ 17, destined for Russia.  While leaving port, however, the ''Lutzow'' ran aground in the fog, necessitating a return to Germany for further repairs.  The ship returned to Norway in November, and was sent, with the cruiser ''Admiral Hipper'' and several destroyers, to intercept Convoy JW 51 headed for the Soviet Union.  The mission was a failure; no merchant ships were sunk, and the ''Lutzow'' failed to score a single hit on the enemy.  Part of the reason was bad weather, and part of it was inadequate coordination between the German ships.  Adolf Hitler was reportedly furious about this fiasco, and ordered that all of Germany’s heavy ships be scrapped and their guns be reassigned for use on land.  The new Commander in Chief of the Kriegsmarine, Karl Donitz, was able to change Hitler’s mind, although Hitler had very little confidence in his surface units from that point on.

On June 12, 1941, the ''Lutzow'', accompanied by an escort of destroyers, set out for Norway, but was hit by a torpedo from a British bomber, forcing her return to Kiel for another six months of repairs.  Bombing raids and bad weather caused delays, but the ''Lutzow'' sailed for Norway on May 15, 1942, to join the ''Admiral Scheer'' in [[Narvik]].  Both ships were sent to intercept Convoy PQ 17, destined for Russia.  While leaving port, however, the ''Lutzow'' ran aground in the fog, necessitating a return to Germany for further repairs.  The ship returned to Norway in November, and was sent, with the cruiser ''Admiral Hipper'' and several destroyers, to intercept Convoy JW 51 headed for the Soviet Union.  The mission was a failure; no merchant ships were sunk, and the ''Lutzow'' failed to score a single hit on the enemy.  Part of the reason was bad weather, and part of it was inadequate coordination between the German ships.  Adolf Hitler was reportedly furious about this fiasco, and ordered that all of Germany’s heavy ships be scrapped and their guns be reassigned for use on land.  The new Commander in Chief of the Kriegsmarine, Karl Donitz, was able to change Hitler’s mind, although Hitler had very little confidence in his surface units from that point on.