Abwehr

American  

[ahp-vair, ahb-, ahp-veyr] / ˈɑp vɛər, ˈɑb-, ˈɑp veɪr /

noun

1. the German high-command service for espionage, counterintelligence, and sabotage during World War II.

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Etymology

Origin of Abwehr

< German: literally, defense (noun derivative of abwehren to defend, ward off ), perhaps originally in a compound such as Spionageabwehr counterintelligence

Example Sentences

The German military intelligence, the Abwehr, fell for it hook, line and sinker, and a copy of Martin's letters for the plans of a Greek invasion landed on Adolf Hitler's desk.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2022

Most of this was low-grade stuff, tolerated by Robertson because it helped to convince the Abwehr of Snow's bona fides, though he also made unauthorised disclosures, notably about the importance of radar.

From The Guardian • Jan. 4, 2013

How much do we know for certain about what the Abwehr did and didn't suspect?

From New York Times • Aug. 1, 2012

"Sleeping with the Enemy: Coco Chanel's Secret Wars," by American historian Hal Vaughan, contends Chanel was an agent of Germany's Abwehr military intelligence organization that undertook wartime missions to Berlin and Madrid.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 17, 2011

These had been designed to make Abwehr messages harder to crack, but the British had picked up on the patterns, which they called “lobsters” and “crabs.”

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield