ixMy own induction into the world of intelligence came about largely by
happenstance. After being engaged as a consultant for a book club, I
received, as my first assignment, the manuscript of a new examination
of the Richard Sorge spy ring in Tokyo. It immediately occurred to me
how little I knew of this important episode—and about espionage activ-
ities in general—despite having had a former member of the Office of
Strategic Services as my doctoral dissertation advisor. Even though the
intervening years have seen large proliferation of intelligence courses
at the college level, the topic remains a missing dimension in far too
many instances. This work was conceived as a reference tool not just for
those with a special interest in the field of intelligence but also for those
engaged in the study of German history. Especially in the contemporary
period, an account that omits the espionage factor would be akin to
studying anatomy and ignoring the circulatory system.
A few words should be added about the dictionary itself. The defini-
tion of what constitutes Germany has been a vexing question for centu-
ries. For purposes of this book, Austrian officials and institutions have
been included along with a number of important Baltic and Sudeten
Germans; Swiss Germans, however, appear only because of an inter-
action with a German figure or agency. Another issue concerns the
distinction between espionage and resistance to Nazi rule during the
Third Reich. Although the line is often hazy, only persons with a clear
connection to intelligence work have been considered. Also, because of
its cumbersomeness, the term Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiter-
partei (National Socialist German Workers’ Party) has been shortened
to Nazi Party. Code names of operations have been accompanied by an
English equivalent when necessary; code names of persons are indi-
cated only by the original designation.