Oskar Schunck

• By founding Oskar Schunck Assekuranz- und Havariekommissariat in Berlin on June 19, 1919—today's SCHUNCK GROUP—Oskar Schunck laid the foundation for pioneering insurance solutions for freight forwarders and carriers and introduced the principle of "replacing liability with insurance." At a time when industrialization and the growth of international trade significantly increased the risks associated with freight transport, he recognized the need to economically balance high cargo values and the resulting liabilities through specialized insurance concepts.
• His holistic approach of replacing liability with insurance led to the development of tailored insurance solutions for freight forwarders, logistics service providers, and industrial companies. As early as 1923, the company opened its first branch offices in Königsberg, Leipzig, Stuttgart, and Munich, which later became the headquarters of the SCHUNCK GROUP.
• Schunck's particular importance to logistics lies in his significant contribution to the General German Freight Forwarders’ Terms and Conditions (ADSp) in combination with an "automated" transport liability insurance concept. Together, they evolved into a common regulatory framework for the freight forwarding industry. Initiated by the German freight forwarding associations, the ADSp were deliberately developed as a consensus document for the entire freight forwarding sector.
• In 1927, Schunck introduced the first systematic and standardized insurance solution covering the statutory liability risks of freight forwarders. Liability risks became insurable, and transport operations became economically predictable. His principle that "insurance replaces liability" combined the legal responsibilities of transport companies with reliable insurance protection and became a key element in the professionalization of freight transport.
• To this day, the ADSp, together with the German Logistics General Terms and Conditions (Logistik-AGB 2006), continue to serve as the standard contractual and liability framework for freight forwarding and logistics services and are regularly updated.
• Schunck's particular contribution to this development was his insurance expertise. He succeeded in strengthening the link between contract law and insurance practice, thereby creating an economically sustainable framework for freight forwarders, shippers, and insurers alike. Standardized contractual and insurance principles made a significant contribution to the standardization and professionalization of the transport industry.
• The impact of Schunck's work extends far beyond individual insurance products. He played a decisive role in transforming logistics from an industry characterized by difficult-to-manage risks into a professionally organized and insurable economic system. Transport liability insurance, the ADSp, and the German Logistics General Terms and Conditions became industry standards that continue to shape the legal and commercial framework of freight transport today.
• Beyond his technical achievements, Schunck promoted close cooperation between logistics companies, industry associations, and the insurance sector. In doing so, he laid an important foundation for professional risk management and for the development of modern national and international supply chains.
• Today, the SCHUNCK GROUP is one of Germany's leading insurance brokers specializing in transport, logistics, and freight forwarding. It continues the tradition of specialized insurance solutions for the logistics industry established by Oskar Schunck.

Born 1877 in Königsberg

June 19, 1919 Founded Oskar Schunck Assekuranz- und Havariekommissariat in Berlin

1926/1927 Contributed to the General German Freight Forwarders’ Terms and Conditions (ADSp) and helped develop freight forwarding and cartage insurance

1927 Established transport liability insurance as a new class of insurance

1936 Passed away; the company was continued by his son and subsequent generations

2021 SCHUNCK GROUP became part of the Ecclesia Group

2026 Inducted into the Logistics Hall of Fame