<?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>2022-12-31</repPdEnd>
      <repPdDate>2022-09-30</repPdDate>
      <isFinalFiling>N</isFinalFiling>
    </genInfo>
    <fundInfo>
      <totAssets>412573256.44</totAssets>
      <totLiabs>333431.59</totLiabs>
      <netAssets>412239824.85</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="3.21000000" rtn2="-1.26000000" rtn3="-5.86000000"/>
          <monthlyTotReturn classId="C000069664" rtn1="3.29000000" rtn2="-1.26000000" rtn3="-5.86000000"/>
        </monthlyTotReturns>
        <othMon1 netRealizedGain="0.00000000" netUnrealizedAppr="13635095.32000000"/>
        <othMon2 netRealizedGain="0.00000000" netUnrealizedAppr="-6006297.79000000"/>
        <othMon3 netRealizedGain="31331.54000000" netUnrealizedAppr="-45417213.73000000"/>
      </returnInfo>
      <mon1Flow redemption="4570405.91000000" reinvestment="0.00000000" sales="1901888.02000000"/>
      <mon2Flow redemption="2039787.55000000" reinvestment="0.00000000" sales="2994636.64000000"/>
      <mon3Flow redemption="2965635.17000000" reinvestment="0.00000000" sales="1351515.84000000"/>


    </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>210018.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>16675429.20000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>4.045079634425</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>141313.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>5911122.79000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>1.433903867039</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>459281.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>14545429.27000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>3.528390124678</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>3319336.89400000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>48827445.71000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>11.84442714329</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>1675433.22000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>30760953.92000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>7.461907381508</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>2237916.89800000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>13651293.08000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>3.311493033203</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>549300BLVWELXUBAZ487</lei>
        <title>DWS ESG Liquidity Fund  'Capital Shares'</title>
        <cusip>461473837</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US4614738379"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>53886627.80700000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>53870461.82000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>13.06774808562</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>5168232.63300000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>37986509.85000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>9.214662815224</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>60009531.70000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>60009531.70000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>14.55694672920</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>SPDR Blackstone Senior Loan ETF</name>
        <lei>549300ME4SR63Y3TRD06</lei>
        <title>SPDR Blackstone Senior Loan ETF</title>
        <cusip>78467V608</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US78467V6083"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>280331.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>11457127.97000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>2.779238511021</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>3258224.25700000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>29975663.16000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>7.271413714312</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>U72UPDOVVEAXSRWTZF97</lei>
        <title>DWS Enhanced Commodity Strategy Fund 'Institutional'</title>
        <cusip>25159L836</cusip>
        <identifiers>
          <isin value="US25159L8366"/>
        </identifiers>
        <balance>9050006.44400000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>54390538.73000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>13.19390690838</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>541892.00000000</balance>
        <units>NS</units>
        <curCd>USD</curCd>
        <valUSD>34301763.60000000</valUSD>
        <pctVal>8.320827230236</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>2022-10-27</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>
  <documents>XXXX</documents>
</edgarSubmission>
