ORGANISATION ABWEHR.
Wilhelm Canaris reorganized the agency in 1938, subdividing the Abwehr into three main sections:
The Central Divisions.
Also called Department Z - Abteilung-Z or 'Die Zentrale' acted as the controlling brain for the two other sections, as well as handling personnel and financial matters, including the payment of agents. Throughout Canaris's tenure it was headed by Hans Oster.
The Foreign Branch.
Amtsgruppe Ausland, later known as Foreign Intelligence Group was the second subdivision of the Abwehr and had several functions:
1. Liaison with the OKW and the general staff of the services.
2. coordination with the German Foreign Ministry on military matters.
3. Evaluation of captured documents and evaluation of foreign press and radio broadcasts. This liaison with the OKW
meant that the Foreign Brach was the appropriate channel to request Abwehr support for a particular mission.
The counter intelligence Branch.
The division in reality focused on intelligence gathering. It was subdivided into the following areas and responsibilities:
- 1, Foreign Intelligence Collection, futher subdivided by letter, like I-Ht. Colonel Hans Pieckenbrock.
- G, false documents, photos, links, passports, chemicals.
- H West, Army West (Anglo-American intelligence).
- H Ost, Army East (Soviet Army intelligence).
- Ht, Technical Army intelligence.
- I, Communications, design of wireless sets, wireless operators.
- K, cryptanalysis operations.
- L, air intelligence.
- M, naval intelligence.
- T/lw, Technical air intelligence.
- Wi, economic intelligence.
- 2, Sabotage. Attached to Abwehr 2 was the Brandenburg Regiment. Colonel Erwin von Lahousen.
- 3, Counter intelligence. Colonel Egbert Bentivegni. Attached to Abwehr III were:
- III-C, Civilian Authority bureau.
- III-C-2, Espionage cases bureau.
- III-D, Disinformation bureau.
- III-F, Counterespionage agents bureau.
- III-N, Postal bureau.
AST = ABWEHRSTELLE.
The Abwehr placed a local station in each military district known as Wehrkreis, each AST was usually subdivided into three sections
1. Espionage.
2. Sabotage.
3. Counter-intelligence.
AST substations were called 'Nests'.
Source: Wikipedia and Warhistory.org.
weggum.com
The Central Divisions.
Also called Department Z - Abteilung-Z or 'Die Zentrale' acted as the controlling brain for the two other sections, as well as handling personnel and financial matters, including the payment of agents. Throughout Canaris's tenure it was headed by Hans Oster.
The Foreign Branch.
Amtsgruppe Ausland, later known as Foreign Intelligence Group was the second subdivision of the Abwehr and had several functions:
1. Liaison with the OKW and the general staff of the services.
2. coordination with the German Foreign Ministry on military matters.
3. Evaluation of captured documents and evaluation of foreign press and radio broadcasts. This liaison with the OKW
meant that the Foreign Brach was the appropriate channel to request Abwehr support for a particular mission.
The counter intelligence Branch.
The division in reality focused on intelligence gathering. It was subdivided into the following areas and responsibilities:
- 1, Foreign Intelligence Collection, futher subdivided by letter, like I-Ht. Colonel Hans Pieckenbrock.
- G, false documents, photos, links, passports, chemicals.
- H West, Army West (Anglo-American intelligence).
- H Ost, Army East (Soviet Army intelligence).
- Ht, Technical Army intelligence.
- I, Communications, design of wireless sets, wireless operators.
- K, cryptanalysis operations.
- L, air intelligence.
- M, naval intelligence.
- T/lw, Technical air intelligence.
- Wi, economic intelligence.
- 2, Sabotage. Attached to Abwehr 2 was the Brandenburg Regiment. Colonel Erwin von Lahousen.
- 3, Counter intelligence. Colonel Egbert Bentivegni. Attached to Abwehr III were:
- III-C, Civilian Authority bureau.
- III-C-2, Espionage cases bureau.
- III-D, Disinformation bureau.
- III-F, Counterespionage agents bureau.
- III-N, Postal bureau.
AST = ABWEHRSTELLE.
The Abwehr placed a local station in each military district known as Wehrkreis, each AST was usually subdivided into three sections
1. Espionage.
2. Sabotage.
3. Counter-intelligence.
AST substations were called 'Nests'.
Source: Wikipedia and Warhistory.org.
weggum.com