1The Dictionary
1– A –
ABHORCHDIENST. The codebreaking unit of the German army dur-
ing World War I, the Abhorchdienst was established at Neumünster
(Schleswig-Holstein) in 1916, relying heavily on the recruitment of
mathematicians. In sharp contrast to the long-standing French Bu-
reau du Chiffre and the Austro-Hungarian Kriegschiffregruppe (War
Cipher Group), not only was the Abhorchdienst a latecomer but it
failed to develop the same level of competence. See also ADFGVX
CIPHER; FIGL, ANDREAS; POKORNY, HERMANN.
ABSCHÖPFEN. A verb meaning “to skim,” abschöpfen refers to elic-
iting relevant information from a person without divulging the fact
that an intelligence service is involved.
ABSCHOTTUNG. The compartmentalization of information for se-
curity purposes, Abschottung generally operates according to the
principle of “need to know,” although drawing a precise line is often
difficult for intelligence agencies.
ABTEILUNG IIIB. The military intelligence unit of the General
Staff until the end of World War I, Abteilung IIIb (Division IIIb)
was created as a section in 1889, replacing an earlier understaffed
and generally ineffective unit. This move reflected a major shift in
German foreign policy, which came to regard Austria as an intimate
ally and Russia as an estranged antagonist. Accordingly, Waenker
von Dankenschweil, the former military attaché in Bern and new
director of the section, formalized close ties with the Evidenzbüro
in Vienna for sharing information and other joint endeavors, while