The
Deutchland class which the
Graf Spee was one of, were ordered under the 1929 Program for the Reichsmarine of the Weimar Republic. So their concept, design and laydown under a troubled democracy certainly predates Hitlers coming to power. Of course the Nazis weren't loathe to put them to use. A distinction without a difference I realize but it goes to show how fuzzy concepts like past government ownership can be. What it comes down to in the end is it's a uniquely "German" warship.
