The Bundesnachrichtendienst (abbreviated as BND) is the foreign intelligence agency of the German government, with roles roughly equivalent to the CIA, the NSA, and to the counterintelligence branch of the FBI. It is headquartered in Pullach near Munich. The domestic law enforcement counterpart of the BND is the Bundeskriminalamt.

Structure of the BND

The Bundesnachrichtendienst ist divided in 8 branches, with different operational intelligence tasks.

1. Operative Aufklärung / HUMINT (Human Intelligence)
2. Technische Aufklärung / SIGINT (Signals Intelligence)
3. Auswertung / Analysis
4. Steuerung und zentrale Dienstleistung / Administration
5. Organisierte Kriminalität - Internationaler Terrorismus / Organized Crime & International Terrorism
6. Technische Unterstützung / Technical Support
7. Schule des BND / BND School
8. Sicherheit / Security & Defense

Presidents of the BND

The head of the Bundesnachrichtendienst is the President. The following persons hold this office since 1956:

• 1956 - 1968: Reinhard Gehlen
• 1968 - 1978: Gerhard Wessel
• 1979 - 1983: Dr. Klaus Kinkel
• 1983 - 1985: Eberhard Blum
• 1985 (August) Heribert Hellenbroich
• 1985 - 1990: Hans-Georg Wieck
• 1990 - 1996: Konrad Porzner
• 1996 - 1998: Hansjörg Geiger
• 1998 - today: Dr. August Hanning

External links

• Official site

book: Norbert Juretzko: bedingt dienstbereit, 2004, ISBN 3550076053, insider report escaped censoring