The ADMIRAL SCHEER was built in the navala yards of Wilhelmshaven. It was put into service on November 12, 1934. Conceived as battleship, it was classified among the heavy cruisers from 1940 onwards.
On September 4, 1939, it was attacked off Schillig by British bombers.
On November 5, 1940, it took part in an attack against the convoy H X 84.
From August 16 to 30, 1942, it took part in the “Wunderland” campaign, waged against maritime traffic in the Kara Sea (Arctic Ocean) and sunk the Soviet Ice-breaker “Sibirjakov” on August 26, 1942.
After being used as a naval school, the Admiral Scheer returned to Kiel on April 9, 1945, for a general overhaul, but it sunk by British aircraft on the return trip.