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BSI → ← BND
Zentralstelle für das Chiffrierwesen
The Zentralstelle für das Chiffrierwesen (ZfCh) 1
was the German Federal
Cryptographic Authority, established on 17 February 1959 as an independent
central office for cryptographic affairs.
ZfCh was located in Mehlem, a suburb of the (then) German capital Bonn,
and was responsible for the development of cryptographic systems as well
as for cryptanalysis (codebreaking).
In 1991, ZfCh became the independent organisation
Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik (BSI).
The history of ZfCh dates back to 1947 when, shortly after
WWII,
cryptologist Erich Hüttenhain
– former chief of cryptanalytical
research of the Wehrmacht (OKW/Chi) – assembled a group of military cryptologists
at the US Army base near Oberursel (Hesse, Germany). This expert group,
known as
Studiengesellschaft zur Förderung Wissenschaftlicher Arbeit
(SFWA) 2 — translated: Society for Scientific Work (SSW) —
subsequently became part of the signals intelligence unit of
Organisation Gehlen (OG) –
the post war intelligence agency – and concentrated on
Eastern Block military transmissions [2].
Located in Mehlem (Bonn, Germany), it was headed by
Hüttenhain.
Hüttenhain was a strong advocate for a
single organisation that was responsible for codemaking (cryptography) and
codebreaking (cryptanalysis) for all governmental users. During WWII,
these fields had been the responsibility of the following separate
organisations that worked aside and often against each other, in a
decentralised and uncoordinated manner [6]:
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OKH/Chi Oberkommando des Heeres (Army), Chiffrierstelle OKL/Chi Oberkommando der Luftwaffe (Air Force), Chiffrierstelle OKM/Chi Oberkommando der Kriegsmarine (Navy), Chiffrierstelle OKW/Chi Oberkommando der Wehrmacht (Armed Forces), Chiffrierstelle Forschungsamt Research Office of the Air Ministry Auswärtiges Amt Foreign Office
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In 1956, Organisation Gehlen (OG) was succeeded
by the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND).
On 17 February 1957 the first plan for a overall federal
cipher authority was drafted, but it took a full two years of
negotiations before the plans were approved. Finally, on
17 February 1959 the SFWA became the
Zentralstelle für das Chiffrierwesen (ZfCh);
an independent organisation under BND Directorate II [6].
The Federal Chancellery defined its tasks as follows:
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- Cryptologic development and evaluation of encryption methods as required by users,
- Cryptanalysis of alien cipher systems.
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Hüttenhain
stayed on as head of the ZfCh until his retirement in 1970.
He was succeeded by Wilhelm Göing who, after his untimely death
in November 1972, was replaced by Otto Leiberich.
In the spring of 1973, during Leiberich's tenure,
ZfCh came under control of BND Department IV;
the department that also handled the secret BND/CIA
Operation RUBICON.
In 1986, still under BND control, ZfCh
formed an internal task force that concentrated on
the fast developing computer and information technology, which
in 1989 became known
as Zentralstelle für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik
(ZSI) — the Central Office for Information Security.
In 1991, ZSI became the independent
Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik
(BSI) — the German Federal Office for Information Security —
which was no longer under BND control.
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In the past the abbreviation ZfCh
has also been written as ZfChi.
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Also known as Studiengesellschaft für wissenschafliche Arbeiten.
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Also known as Studiengesellschaft für wissenschafliche Arbeiten
and as Society for Scientic Work (SSW).
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Leiberich stayed on as head of the BSI
until 1993.
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Erich Hüttenhain,
and from 1970 his successor Wilhelm Göing, were largely responsible for
Operation THESAURUS
(later: RUBICON)
— the secret purchase of the Swiss crypto-manufacturer
Crypto AG,
by the German BND
and the American CIA.
They are regarded as the architects.
Göing unexpectedly died in November 1972 and was succeeded by Otto Leiberich [4].
But as Leiberich was less of a 'heavy weight' than Göing and Hüttenhain,
it was decided – in the spring of 1973 –
to place ZfCh under Department IV of the BND, which was
also responsible for Operation RUBICON.
It provided CIA with a single point of contact
for matters related to the operation [3].
➤ More about Operation RUBICON
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The timeline below shows the history of ZfCh, its predecessors and
successors, and its former parent BND. The organisation started life
around 1947 as Studiengesellschaft für zur Förderung Wissenschaflicher
Arbeit (Study Society for the Promotion of Scientific Work),
in literature also known as Studiengesellschaft für wissenschaftliche
Arbeiten, or Society of Scientific Work (SSW).
In 1956, parent OG became the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND)
— the Federal Intelligence Service of Germany.
A year later, on 17 February 1957 the first plan was drafted for an
overall federal cryptographic authority under the name Zentralstelle für das
Chiffrierwesen. Nevertheless it took a full two years to get permission
for the new organisation. Finally, on 17 February 1959, ZfCh
was officially inaugurated.
In 1989, ZfCh became the Zentralstelle für Sicherheit in der
Informationstechnik (ZSI).
In 1991, ZSI was split into two independent entities [5]:
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- Wikipedia, Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik
Retrieved December 2019. ➤ English version
- Jefferson Adams, Historical Dictionary of German Intelligence
2009. ISBN 978-0-8108-5543-4, p. 517.
- Paul Reuvers & Marc Simons, Operation RUBICON
Crypto Museum, 19 March 2020.
- Friedrich L. Bauer, Historische Notizen zur Informatik
2009, ISBN 978-3-540-85789-1. p. 388 (Erich Hüttenhain).
- Michael van der Meulen, Cryptology in the early Bundesrepublik
Cryptologia, July 1996, 20(3), 202-222.
- BND, Beitrag des Leiters der Fernmeldeaufklärung (Erfahrungsbericht Schwarz) 1
Chapter IV: ZENTRALSTELLE für das CHIFFRIERWESEN.
Pullach, 1960. Streng Geheim (Top Secret). pp. 51-56.
See note 1 below.
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© Crypto Museum. Created: Friday 20 December 2019. Last changed: Saturday, 15 August 2026 - 14:27 CET.
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