SE 109/3

SE 109/3 clandestine radio at the Berlin Spy Museum

The SE 109/3 was a clandestine World War II espionage transmitter and receiver developed in 1942 by Nazi Germany's military intelligence agency, the Abwehr.[1] Nicknamed the "Keksdose" (Biscuit Tin or Cookie Box) because the entire setup was built into a compact metal tin, it was designed to let covert agents send and receive intelligence messages across international borders.

Technical Specifications

  • Power Output: Around 3 watts.
  • Dimensions: 20 × 14 × 6 cm.
  • Weight: Approximately 1.7 kg.
  • Transmission Mode: Strictly Morse code (CW).
  • Transmitter Range: Fixed frequencies in the 3.3–7.5 MHz range (80- to 40-metre band) using built-in or plug-in crystals.
  • Receiver Range: Variable and freely adjustable between 3.2–6.5 MHz.
  • Tubes: Built using battery-friendly DF11 and DLL22T vacuum tubes to save energy.
  • Language: All label markings on the device were written in English to conceal its German origin if an agent was captured.

Historical Timeline

  • 1942 (Development): Engineered by the OKW-Aussenstelle Wurzen 1 outpost for the Abwehr.
  • 1943 (Production): About 500 units were built during the war. It was eventually used by successive Nazi intelligence groups, including the Reichssicherheitshauptamt (RSHA) and Fremde Heere Ost (FHO).
  • Post-WWII (The Cold War): After Germany's defeat, the newly formed Western-backed Organisation Gehlen (OG) heavily recruited former Abwehr personnel to spy behind the Iron Curtain. Desperate for reliable gear, the OG aggressively bought back these leftover radios from civilian collectors.
  • Late 1950s: The radio continued serving the early operations of Germany's modern foreign intelligence agency, the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND).

Because of the heavy buyback campaigns during the Cold War, surviving original models are incredibly rare collector items today.

See also

References

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