I believe the Graf Spee was completed in the '20's -- before Hitler came to power. He could have changed the name as he had done with the "Deutschland" (which was the Graf Spee's sister ship).
I believe the Graf Spee was completed in the '20's -- before Hitler came to power. You must be thinking of a different ship.
Graf Spee
Laid down - Oct 1, 1932 As Panzerschiff C or Ersatz Braunschweig
Commissioned January 1, 1936 as Panzerschiffe Admiral Graf Spee
More key dates here:
http://www.feldgrau.com/grafspee.html