The German Military Counterintelligence Service (Ger. Militärischer Abschirmdienst) (MAD) is a joint military-civilian intelligence agency and member of the German intelligence community. 

With approximately 1,300 personnel and eight regional offices, MAD’s mandate spans counterintelligence, extremism monitoring, and cybersecurity, particularly in the realms that affect the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr). The MAD is also responsible for countering insider threats and conducting background checks on members of the military. It reports directly to the Ministry of Defence. [source].

1 Historic overview

The history of the MAD dates back to 1956, when it was established as the Office for Security in the Bundeswehr (Amt für Sicherheit der Bundeswehr), shortly after the establishment of the Bundeswehr itself in 1955. The MAD’s evolution was impacted by the broader background of German intelligence agencies, particularly the founding of the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND) in 1956, which absorbed the Gehlen Organization—a secret intelligence force founded by Major General Reinhard Gehlen after World War II. As such, its beginnings were shaped by the threat landscape of the cold war. [source, source]

In the 1980s, the MAD went through a restructuring. As Germany started to incorporate former East German military personnel into the Bundeswehr, this reorganization was partially a reaction to the shifting security landscape following 1989. In order to maintain the security and allegiance of the unified military, MAD’s duties were extended when the National People’s Army (NVA) joined the Bundeswehr in October 1990. 

The MAD saw another major restructuring in 2017 that brought it closer to the German Ministry of Defense. The goal of this reorganization was to strengthen MAD’s federal intelligence capabilities and further incorporate it into Germany’s security framework. The modern MAD is responsible for safeguarding the Bundeswehr against a variety of threats and to preserve the integrity of the Bundeswehr.  Its function in screening new hires and keeping an eye on radicalism within the force is still vital as case numbers remain high. [source]

2 Organization and Structure

The MAD is headquartered in Cologne with eight regional offices across Germany in:

• Kiel
• Hannover
• Hilden
• Koblenz 
• Stuttgart
• Munich
• Schwielowsee
• Wilhelmshaven

The MAD consists of eight civilian and military departments. [source]

Civilian:

• Department G (Legal and Compliance; Foreign Relations)
• Department E (counter extremism)
• Department S (counter-espionage)
• Department ES (self-protection)

Military:

• Department Z (HR, logistics, budget)
• Department A (protection of deployed troops and mission abroad)
• Department P (Internal security, background investigations)
• Department T (IT and cyberdefense)

3 Mission

The MAD does not engage in strategic foreign intelligence collection. However, its defensive mission supports German military operations abroad. Its mission is to protect the Bundeswehr from foreign intelligence operations in the physical and cyber domains. It partners with the two other major German intelligence agencies: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) and Federal Intelligence Service (BND) Additionally, it investigates soldiers for extremist ideology and performs background checks on recruits.

3.1 Main Threat Vectors

• Russian Espionage: Russian intelligence remains a major threat, especially due to Germany’s military support for Ukraine. Key areas of Russian intelligence gathering in Germany are information about weapons and ammunition transports, deployment procedures and tactics of Western weapons systems in Ukraine to obtain an advantage on the battlefield. The MAD is also challenged by evolving threats against German critical infrastructure. [source]
• Chinese Espionage: In addition to Russia, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is very active in intelligence gathering in Germany. It engages in espionage, cyberattacks, and disinformation campaigns. [source]
• Extremism in the Bundeswehr: The Bundeswehr has long struggled with cases of far-right extremism among its staff. In 2020, the German Special Operations Command (KSK) became a hotbed of attention as it seemed to disproportionately attract far-right ideology. The MAD continues to investigate hundreds of similar cases annually. [source, source]

Threats continue to evolve and are also present in the cyber and information domain, necessitating additional resilience and awareness in the digital space for the MAD. In one recent military-related counterintelligence incident, Russia in March 2024 intercepted and published the communication of high-level German military officials discussing the possible use of the Taurus loitering munition against civilian infrastructures in Crimea. [source]

4 Conclusion

The MAD plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the Bundeswehr from a diverse array of threats, including espionage, sabotage, and internal extremism. Throughout its history, MAD has evolved to address the changing security landscape, from the Cold War era to the present day’s challenges of cyber threats and hybrid warfare. 

Working closely with other intelligence agencies, it plays a crucial role in Germany’s national security framework and tackles the intricate security issues of the 21st century. It continues to play a crucial role in spotting and thwarting insider threats, especially right-wing extremism in the military. The increasingly complex geopolitical environment in Europe in which Germany finds itself ensures that MAD’s role in national security will remain vital, requiring continued support and reform to ensure its effectiveness in protecting the Bundeswehr and upholding democratic values.