<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/nport" xmlns:com="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common" xmlns:ncom="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/nportcommon" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/nport eis_NPORT_Filer.xsd">
  <headerData>
    <submissionType>NPORT-P</submissionType>
    <isConfidential>false</isConfidential>
    <filerInfo>

      <filer>
        <issuerCredentials>
          <cik>0000810573</cik>
          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
        </issuerCredentials>
      </filer>


      <seriesClassInfo>
        <seriesId>S000023653</seriesId>
        <classId>C000077948</classId>
        <classId>C000069664</classId>
      </seriesClassInfo>


    </filerInfo>
  </headerData>
  <formData>
    <genInfo>
      <regName>DEUTSCHE DWS VARIABLE SERIES II</regName>
      <regFileNumber>811-05002</regFileNumber>
      <regCik>0000810573</regCik>
      <regLei>7WRERVUOG2HKG87QIP75</regLei>
      <regStreet1>875 Third Avenue</regStreet1>
      <regCity>NEW YORK</regCity>
      <regStateConditional regCountry="US" regState="US-NY"/>
      <regZipOrPostalCode>10022-6225</regZipOrPostalCode>
      <regPhone>212-454-4500</regPhone>
      <seriesName>DWS Alternative Asset Allocation VIP</seriesName>
      <seriesId>S000023653</seriesId>
      <seriesLei>GQ5WPXZ58F53M4Z2IQ22</seriesLei>
      <repPdEnd>2020-12-31</repPdEnd>
      <repPdDate>2020-12-31</repPdDate>
      <isFinalFiling>N</isFinalFiling>
    </genInfo>
    <fundInfo>
      <totAssets>464554817.33</totAssets>
      <totLiabs>337125.64</totLiabs>
      <netAssets>464217691.69</netAssets>
      <assetsAttrMiscSec>0.00000000</assetsAttrMiscSec>
      <assetsInvested>0.00000000</assetsInvested>
      <amtPayOneYrBanksBorr>0.00000000</amtPayOneYrBanksBorr>
      <amtPayOneYrCtrldComp>0.00000000</amtPayOneYrCtrldComp>
      <amtPayOneYrOthAffil>0.00000000</amtPayOneYrOthAffil>
      <amtPayOneYrOther>0.00000000</amtPayOneYrOther>
      <amtPayAftOneYrBanksBorr>0.00000000</amtPayAftOneYrBanksBorr>
      <amtPayAftOneYrCtrldComp>0.00000000</amtPayAftOneYrCtrldComp>
      <amtPayAftOneYrOthAffil>0.00000000</amtPayAftOneYrOthAffil>
      <amtPayAftOneYrOther>0.00000000</amtPayAftOneYrOther>
      <delayDeliv>0.00000000</delayDeliv>
      <standByCommit>0.00000000</standByCommit>
      <liquidPref>0.00000000</liquidPref>
      <cshNotRptdInCorD>0.00000000</cshNotRptdInCorD>
      <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
      <returnInfo>
        <monthlyTotReturns>
          <monthlyTotReturn classId="C000077948" rtn1="-0.64000000" rtn2="7.03000000" rtn3="3.25000000"/>
          <monthlyTotReturn classId="C000069664" rtn1="-0.64000000" rtn2="7.10000000" rtn3="3.24000000"/>
        </monthlyTotReturns>
        <othMon1 netRealizedGain="0.00000000" netUnrealizedAppr="-2875160.62000000"/>
        <othMon2 netRealizedGain="21512.14000000" netUnrealizedAppr="29617400.38000000"/>
        <othMon3 netRealizedGain="-389114.48000000" netUnrealizedAppr="12021590.23000000"/>
      </returnInfo>
      <mon1Flow redemption="4217933.65000000" reinvestment="0.00000000" sales="678053.42000000"/>
      <mon2Flow redemption="4162180.88000000" reinvestment="0.00000000" sales="793417.15000000"/>
      <mon3Flow redemption="4533261.66000000" reinvestment="0.00000000" sales="930438.34000000"/>


    </fundInfo>
    <invstOrSecs>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>iShares JP Morgan USD Emerging</name>
        <lei>549300LRIF3NWCU26A80</lei>
        <title>iShares JP Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF</title>
        <cusip>464288281</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US4642882819"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>187560.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>21740079.60000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>4.683164814519</pctVal>
        <payoffProfile>Long</payoffProfile>
        <assetCat>EC</assetCat>
        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>

        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>iShares Global Infrastructure</name>
        <lei>549300ZC2N3HUK3DTK30</lei>
        <title>iShares Global Infrastructure ETF</title>
        <cusip>464288372</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US4642883726"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>490135.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>21423800.85000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>4.615033255627</pctVal>
        <payoffProfile>Long</payoffProfile>
        <assetCat>EC</assetCat>
        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>

        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>iShares US Preferred Stock ETF</name>
        <lei>549300YX74JNY54XCY80</lei>
        <title>iShares US Preferred Stock ETF</title>
        <cusip>464288687</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US4642886877"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>1104703.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>42542112.53000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>9.164259202428</pctVal>
        <payoffProfile>Long</payoffProfile>
        <assetCat>EC</assetCat>
        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>

        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>DWS</name>
        <lei>549300PVLPCCDJRWQR23</lei>
        <title>DWS RREEF Global Infrastructure Fund 'Institutional'</title>
        <cusip>25156A858</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US25156A8586"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>3357839.27500000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>53154595.72000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>11.45035974964</pctVal>
        <payoffProfile>Long</payoffProfile>
        <assetCat>EC</assetCat>
        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>

        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>DWS</name>
        <lei>S3F7OHQGFS84K9XEJE32</lei>
        <title>DWS RREEF Global Real Estate Securities Fund 'Institutional'</title>
        <cusip>25159L406</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US25159L4068"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>616778.52000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>4792369.10000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>1.032353825756</pctVal>
        <payoffProfile>Long</payoffProfile>
        <assetCat>EC</assetCat>
        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>

        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>DWS</name>
        <lei>2EGUP71H6PBMSKMC3J09</lei>
        <title>DWS RREEF Real Estate Securities Fund 'Institutional'</title>
        <cusip>25159L737</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US25159L7376"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>2161192.47600000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>44650236.55000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>9.618383217461</pctVal>
        <payoffProfile>Long</payoffProfile>
        <assetCat>EC</assetCat>
        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>

        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>DWS</name>
        <lei>LBPF8NSCNKWC3WP4IN32</lei>
        <title>DWS Emerging Markets Fixed Income Fund 'Institutional'</title>
        <cusip>25156A841</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US25156A8412"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>2641113.77200000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>24932114.01000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>5.370780660951</pctVal>
        <payoffProfile>Long</payoffProfile>
        <assetCat>EC</assetCat>
        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>

        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>SPDR S&amp;P Global Natural Resources ETF</name>
        <lei>549300TY1RVQ2C1UO359</lei>
        <title>SPDR S&amp;P Global Natural Resources ETF</title>
        <cusip>78463X541</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US78463X5418"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>258982.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>11597213.96000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>2.498227484131</pctVal>
        <payoffProfile>Long</payoffProfile>
        <assetCat>EC</assetCat>
        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>

        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>DWS</name>
        <lei>0KSKGKXWCZQDZ1RPR634</lei>
        <title>DWS Floating Rate Fund 'Institutional'</title>
        <cusip>25157W800</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US25157W8001"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>5157327.33600000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>40691312.68000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>8.765566976101</pctVal>
        <payoffProfile>Long</payoffProfile>
        <assetCat>EC</assetCat>
        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>

        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>DWS</name>
        <lei>549300VE52DGR0TFBL27</lei>
        <title>DWS Global Macro Fund 'Institutional'</title>
        <cusip>25156G509</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US25156G5099"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>2218432.12500000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>22250874.21000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>4.793198236154</pctVal>
        <payoffProfile>Long</payoffProfile>
        <assetCat>EC</assetCat>
        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>

        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>DWS</name>
        <lei>5493003GD84DGSXJ7618</lei>
        <title>DWS Central Cash Management Government Fund</title>
        <cusip>25160K306</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US25160K3068"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>23563847.61000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>23563847.61000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>5.076033945241</pctVal>
        <payoffProfile>Long</payoffProfile>
        <assetCat>STIV</assetCat>
        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>

        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>DWS</name>
        <lei>U72UPDOVVEAXSRWTZF97</lei>
        <title>DWS Enhanced Commodity Strategy Fund 'Institutional'</title>
        <cusip>25159L836</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US25159L8366"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>5841969.41000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>53979797.35000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>11.62812152925</pctVal>
        <payoffProfile>Long</payoffProfile>
        <assetCat>EC</assetCat>
        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>

        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
      <invstOrSec>
        <name>SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Conver</name>
        <lei>549300IXKU3G7R6DMX93</lei>
        <title>SPDR Bloomberg Barclays Convertible Securities ETF</title>
        <cusip>78464A359</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US78464A3591"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>1198544.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>99227457.76000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>21.37519951011</pctVal>
        <payoffProfile>Long</payoffProfile>
        <assetCat>EC</assetCat>
        <issuerCat>RF</issuerCat>
        <invCountry>US</invCountry>
        <isRestrictedSec>N</isRestrictedSec>

        <fairValLevel>1</fairValLevel>
        <securityLending>
          <isCashCollateral>N</isCashCollateral>
          <isNonCashCollateral>N</isNonCashCollateral>
          <isLoanByFund>N</isLoanByFund>
        </securityLending>
      </invstOrSec>
    </invstOrSecs>
    <signature>
      <ncom:dateSigned>2021-01-21</ncom:dateSigned>
      <ncom:nameOfApplicant>DEUTSCHE DWS VARIABLE SERIES II</ncom:nameOfApplicant>
      <ncom:signature>Diane Kenneally</ncom:signature>
      <ncom:signerName>Diane Kenneally</ncom:signerName>
      <ncom:title>Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer</ncom:title>
    </signature>
  </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
