Abwehr

The Abwehr was a German intelligence organization from 1921 to 1944. The word Abwehren means "to ward off", implying counterespionage; this term was used as a concession to Allied demands that Germany's post-World War I intelligence activities be for "defensive" purposes only. After February 4, 1938, its name in full was Amt Ausland/Abwehr im Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (Foreign Bureau/Defence of the Armed Forces High Command).

The Abwehr before Canaris

The Abwehr was created in 1921 as part of the Ministry of Defence when Germany was allowed to form the Reichswehr, the military organization of the Weimar Republic. The first head was Major Friedrich Gempp, a former deputy to Col. Walther Nicolai, the head of German inteligence during World War I. At that time, it was composed of only three officers and seven former officers plus a clerical staff. By the 1920s it was organized into three sections:

Related Topics:
Ministry of Defence - Reichswehr - Military organization - Weimar Republic - Col. Walther Nicolai - 1920s

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• I. Reconnaissance
• II. Cipher and Radio Monitoring
• III. Counterespionage

The German Navy's intelligence staff merged with the Abwehr in 1928.

Related Topics:
German Navy's - 1928

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In the 1930s, with the rise of the Nazi movement, the Ministry of Defence was reorganized; surprisingly, on June 7, 1932, a naval officer, Capt. Konrad Patzig, was named chief of the Abwehr, despite the fact that it was staffed largely by Army officers. But perhaps not surprisingly, because the small size of the organization and its limited importance at that time made it unsuitable to a more ambitious Army officer. Another factor may be was that naval officers had more foreign experience than their Army counterparts and understood more of foreign affairs. However, the three services eventually developed their own intelligence staff.

Related Topics:
1930s - Nazi - June 7 - 1932

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Because of Abwehr-sponsored reconnaissance flights across the border with Poland, Patzig soon had confrontations with Heinrich Himmler, head of the SS; Army leaders feared that the flights would endanger the secret plans for an attack in Poland. Patzig was fired in January 1935 as a result and was sent to command the new pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee; he later became Chief of Naval Personnel. His replacement was another Reichsmarine captain, Wilhelm Canaris.

Related Topics:
Poland - Heinrich Himmler - SS - January - 1935 - Pocket battleship - Admiral Graf Spee - Wilhelm Canaris

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