He signed the Anglo-German Naval Agreement, which allowed Germany to build up its navy to 35 percent of the strength of the British Royal Navy and effectively repudiated the restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles on the German fleet.[1] This led to a decision in 1937 to build ships to an improved Deutschland-class cruiser design.[2] Design work on the new class of armored ships began that year.[3] After more than twenty designs were considered to meet the navy's specifications, one was chosen; it was designated as cruiser "P".[2] It called for a 20,000-metric-ton (20,000-long-ton) with a maximum speed of 34 to 35 kn (63 to 65 km/h; 39 to 40 mph), armed with six 28 cm (11 in) guns in two triple turrets.[4]