Magdeburg was ordered under the contract name "Ersatz " and was laid down at the AG Weser shipyard in Bremen in 1910 and launched on 13 May 1911, after which fitting-out work commenced.
Strassburg was ordered under the contract name "Ersatz " and was laid down at the Kaiserliche Werft shipyard in Wilhelmshaven in 1910 and launched on 24 August 1911, after which fitting-out work commenced.