"Heading into the late 1930s, fresh off a victory over the gun-slinging gangsters, the FBI hardly had time to catch its collective breath" -- FBI Archives
FBI Special Intelligence Service
After the FBI dealt a serious blow to organized crime within America's borders, it was faced with a new and unprecedented outside threat from rising fascist powers. In order to overcome these challenges, the FBI was forced to expand and apply itself like never before. The Special Intelligence Service was born.
Notable SIS Cases
The Case of the Treasonous Dolls
Velvalee Dickinson
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"It is hard to believe that some people do not realize that our country is engaged in a life and death struggle. Any help given to the enemy means the death of American boys who are fighting for our national security. You, as a |
Cracking the code
After long hours of hard work and dedication the FBI cracked the code, and what they found was startling.
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Excerpt From Letter"I just secured a lovely Siamese Temple Dancer, it had been damaged, that is tore in the middle. But it is now repaired and I like it very much. I could not get a mate for this Siam dancer, so I am redressing just a small plain ordinary doll into a second Siam doll..." FBI Decryption"I just secured information of a fine aircraft carrier warship, it had been damaged, that is torpedoed in the middle. But it is now repaired and I like it very much. They could not get a mate for this so a plain ordinary warship is being converted into a second aircraft carrier..." |
After decoding the letters, the FBI was able to trace them back to Dickinson through the return to sender address and by matching the letters to Dickinson's type writers. She was sentenced to life in prison.
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Duquesne Spy RingBefore America even entered the war, Germany had sent spies to gain knowledge of American weapons, military capacity, and the top secret Manhattan atomic testing project. However the FBI was one step ahead of them, and little did the Germans know they were walking into a trap.
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Notable Duquesne Spy Ring Members
Paul Fense
- Organized Meetings, managed members, and transmitted stolen information to Germany-Under the command of the Marine Division of the German espionage System in the US
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Paul Bante
- Stole information regarding supply ships
- Spread discontent among American union Workers |
Adolf Walischewski
- Spy laison to Germany
- Carried stolen information to Germany |
Alfred E. Brokhoff
- Stole information about US cargo ships
- Sent stolen information back to Germany |