Following the "Anschluss" of Austria into Nazi Germany on 12 March 1938, Adolf Hitler used Austria-Hungary's naval history to appeal to the Austrian public and obtain their support. Having lived in Vienna during the development of much of the Austro-Hungarian Navy, Hitler decided upon an "Austrian" sounding name for a German cruiser which was being constructed at Kiel. The cruiser was originally to be named "Tegetthoff" after Wilhelm von Tegetthoff, though concerns over the possible insult to Italy and Benito Mussolini of naming the cruiser after the Austrian victor of the Battle of Lissa, led the "Kriegsmarine" to adopt as the ship's namesake, after the Austrian general Prince Eugene of Savoy. "Prinz Eugen" had also served as the name for four Austrian naval ships between 1848 and 1918. She was launched on 22 August 1938, in a ceremony attended by Hitler and the Governor (German: "Reichsstatthalter") of Ostmark, Arthur Seyss-Inquart, who made the christening speech. Also present at the launch was Regent of Hungary, Admiral Miklós Horthy. Horthy had previously commanded the "Tegetthoff"-class battleship "Prinz Eugen" from 24 November 1917 to 1 March 1918 and had commanded the Austro-Hungarian Navy in the final months of World War I. Horthy wife's, Magdolna Purgly, performed the christening. In reference to her originally planned name and in homage to the Austro-Hungarian Navy, the bell from "Tegetthoff" was presented to the German cruiser "Prinz Eugen" on 22 November 1942 by the Italian Regia Marina. After World War II, the bell from "Tegetthoff" was placed on display in Graz, Austria, where it can still be viewed.