Deutschland's renaming as Lützow served two purposes. Germany was trying to obscure the sale of the Admiral Hipper-class cruiser already named Lützow to the Soviet Union, although Allied intelligence soon recognized what had happened. Renaming Deutschland also reduced the propaganda risk of losing a ship whose name meant Germany. Her earlier Atlantic patrol had attracted relatively little attention after sinking two ships and capturing a third. A loss to the Royal Navy would have made the name itself part of the British victory story.
Notable Point · 37:03-39:39
Why Deutschland became Lützow
Renaming Deutschland was intended to conceal a cruiser sale to the Soviet Union and avoid the propaganda risk of losing a warship named Germany.