Why Scharnhorst was not a battlecruiser

Gun count, calibre, and speed do not settle a warship's classification. Some battlecruisers carried more guns than some battleships, so broadside count alone cannot draw the line. Scharnhorst and Gneisenau were conceived as fast battleships while Germany's maritime industry was still recovering. Their 11-inch battery reflected the largest weapon Germany could then build and sustain. The same argument rejects describing the Deutschland class as battlecruisers. Intended type and industrial context explain these ships better than a shortcut based on armament.