 The three "Deutschland"-class ships served on several non-intervention patrols during the Spanish Civil War in 1936–1938.Most of the heavy cruisers were used as commerce raiders during World War II, of which "Admiral Scheer" was the most successful; was scuttled after the Battle of the River Plate.was sunk by Norwegian coastal batteries during Operation "Weserübung", the German invasion of Denmark and Norway, just four days after the ship joined the fleet.