Adalbert Zuckschwerdt

Who was Adalbert Zuckschwerdt?

Adalbert Zuckschwerdt was captain of the German raider SMS Cormoran, which sailed from the German colony of Tsingtao, China, until she finally docked was and interned at Guam by the Americans. Zuckschwerdt preempted the confiscation of his ship by the Americans by igniting preplanted explosives and scuttling her in Apra Harbor. He was rescued and captured by Captain William P. Cronan, who called him "a brave man" for his actions.

Zuckschwerdt had served on SMS Roon as a gunnery officer when she visited Australia in 1913.

During World War II, by then in his late 60s, he was the Konteradmiral commanding the Loire/French South Coast command in 1943. On 23 March 1944 Zuckschwerdt received the German Cross in Silver as Seekommandant Languedoc. He died in July 1945, shortly after Germany's surrender to the Allies.