Under deck, comparably large teaching rooms underlined the primary role and, unlike other ships in the fleet, Deutschland had some civilians (captain's steward, shoemaker, tailor) serving alongside military personnel.

Permission to build the ship was granted despite being larger than allowed by tonnage restrictions imposed by the WEU on West Germany.

Delivered 10 April 1963, Deutschland was commissioned on 25 May 1966 and, like the sail training ship Gorch Fock, attached to the Naval Academy Mürwik in Flensburg-Mürwik.

During her active service, thousands of cadets of the post-war West German navy completed the three-month practical part of their officer's training on board Deutschland.

Prior to the Type 440 class training ship Deutschland, other surface warships in German naval service were carrying the same name.