within several years: reconnaissance, cipher and radio monitoring,
and counterespionage. In 1927, Gempp was succeeded by Günter
Schwantes. The intelligence branch of the German Navy merged
with the Abwehr the following year. The group’s headquarters re-
mained in Berlin at Tirpitzufer 74/75 until 1943, when it was moved
to Zossen just outside the city.
Schwantes was replaced briefly in 1930 by Ferdinand von Bre-
dow, who later became a victim of the Night of the Long Knives.
Another short tenure was that of Konrad Patzig, a naval captain
who faced serious differences with Defense Minister Werner von
Blomberg. Following the selection of Admiral Wilhelm Canaris in
January 1935, the Abwehr experienced a significant expansion, grow-
ing from an organization of fewer than 150 persons to nearly 1,000
in a three-year period. It included civilians as well as army and navy
personnel. Under Canaris, the Abwehr was initially divided into five
sections: secret espionage abroad (Hans Piekenbrock), sabotage
(Helmuth Groscurth), counterespionage (Rudolf Bamler), foreign
liaison (Leopold Bürkner), and administration and organization (Hans
Oster). In 1938, the replacement of the War Ministry with the Armed
Forces High Command brought about a new name—Amt Ausland/
Abwehr (Office of Foreign Intelligence)—although the term Abwehr
continued to be commonly used. A keen rivalry with the Sicher-
heitsdienst (SD; Security Service) also began to develop in spite of an
understanding—the “Ten Commandments” agreement—reached
between Canaris and SD head Reinhard Heydrich early on.
At the beginning of World War II, a specialized Abwehrstelle was
established in cities throughout the Reich such as Bremen, Hamburg,
Breslau (now Wroclaw, Poland), and Vienna. In addition to officers
attached to military field operations, the Abwehr maintained formal
representation with allied countries such as Japan and Italy. In oc-
cupied lands, Abwehr activities were generally under the control
of local Wehrmacht officers. In neutral countries, diplomatic cover
proved to be the norm. Especially well-formed were the espionage
networks in the Balkans, Portugal, and above all Spain, where Ca-
naris enjoyed a close relationship with Francisco Franco and his
intelligence chief dating from the Spanish Civil War. Established
prewar networks also existed in South America, principally in Chile,
Argentina, and Brazil.
ABWEHR • 3