High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Abwehr was a German military intelligence (information gathering) organization from 1921 to 1944. The term Abwehr (, German for defence) was used as a concession to Allied demands that Germany`s post–World War I intelligence activities be for "defensive" purposes only. After 4 February 1938, its name in title was Foreign Affairs/Defence Office of the Armed Forces High Command (Amt Ausland/Abwehr im Oberkommando der Wehrmacht).