Historical Dictionary of British Intelligence

ADMINISTRATION DIRECTORATE• 3

ABWEHR.The principal German intelligence agency, and therefore
the main adversary of British Intelligence during World War II.
Headed by AdmiralWilhelm Canarisuntil his dismissal in 1944,
the Abwehr (meaning ‘‘defense’’ in German) was not centrally orga-
nized, although the main headquarters was in Berlin’s elegant Tirpit-
zufer. Individualabstellen, or regional offices, were located within
Germany’s military districts; theHamburgabstelle was responsible
for collecting intelligence against Great Britain.
Information about the Abwehr’s structure, staff, and operations
came from the interrogation of captured spies, who were questioned
atMI5’s detention center,Camp 020; from the interception of the
organization’s communications, known asiskandisos; and from
defectors, among themOtto Johnand Erich Vermehren.

ADAM STREET.Located just off the Strand, Adam Street accommo-
dated one of theSecret Intelligence Service’s front addresses be-
tween 1919 and 1925. The location was compromised by surveillance
mounted on the building by detectives working forWilliam Ewer’s
spy ring.

AD/B. Special Operations Executive(SOE) symbol for the head of
the SOE mission inGibraltarduring World War II.

ADMINISTRATION DIRECTORATE.The Administration Direc-
torate of theSecret Intelligence Service(SIS) was created in 1945
as part of the postwar reorganization and was initially headed by
CaptainFrank Slocum(designated DO/Admin). He was responsible
for SIS’s administration policies, supervised the administrative ma-
chinery, and chaired the Selection Committee and the Permanent
Committee for Registry and Archives. He also managed organiza-
tional development, oversaw administrative inspection of overseas
stations, and ran the W Department, which handled the production
of forged papers. His personal assistant was Miss M. Porter Har-
greaves. The Administration Directorate was later to be placed under
Mr. Musson, one of the joint directors for finance and administration.
Slocum’s deputy (designated ‘‘A’’) was Commander B. A. P.
Davis, responsible for management training and secret seaborne op-
erations. The directorate included the following departments: