Ruckteschell had continued firing on merchant vessels after they had surrendered. This contravened the laws of naval warfare, the Admiralty requested that Ruckteschell and his crew members be detained for interrogation. Ruckteschell spent the last years of the war on the staff of the German naval attaché in Japan. He was eventually located in an internment camp near Kobe and was sent back to Germany for trial. The British charges submitted to the United Nations War Crimes Commission claimed "at least one clear case of mass murder and several equally clear cases of the sinking of vessels whose crew were on the vessels when they were fired on, and were not picked up subsequently when on boats, rafts and in the water." Charges 1. Regarding , which was attacked on 10 July 1940 by Widder. The charge was that he continued to fire after the radio was knocked out and the signal to surrender acknowledged. It was charged that the Widders gunners continued to fire for eight minutes after a signal was sent indicating that the Davisian crew was abandoning ship. The defence maintained that no signal had been seen or received and that three seamen on board the Davisian were seen heading towards her ship's gun. 2. Regarding SS Anglo Saxon, attacked on 21 August 1940 by Widder. The charge was that Ruckteschell fired on the lifeboats, and failed to ensure the crew's survival. Able Seaman Robert Tapscott of the Anglo Saxon, although unavailable to attend Ruckteschell’s trial, testified that the Widder had opened fire on the boats and rafts as they moved away from the sinking ship. The defence maintained Ruckteschell was firing over their heads at the ship, and that the boats attempted to escape and were lost sight of in the dark. Ruckteschell was found guilty of "not providing for the safety of the crew". 3. Regarding , attacked on 4 August 1940 by Widder. The charge was that he failed to ensure the safety of the survivors. Ruckteschell chose to leave 28 of them adrift over from the nearest land. The defence maintained it was dark, and that Widder had searched for them for 2½ hours without success. He was initially found guilty on this charge, but was later acquitted on appeal in August 1947. 4. Regarding , attacked on 11 September 1942 by Michel. The charge was that he continued to fire after she