German Code Names during CRUSADER

The Germans made heavy use of code-names in their radio traffic. Below is a list based on my work with the ULTRA decrypts from Kew. I would be grateful for anyone with the ability to fill in some of the gaps.

There are some obvious groupings. For example, anything with OTTO is probably an office of the Panzergruppe staff. Anything with IDA is likely located in Italy. Some code-names apply to more than one thing (SULTAN stands for Naples, and C-in-C Fliegerkorps X), and in some cases the same thing has two codenames (Benghazi with AMTSGERICHT and KAPUZINER).

Group: Offices/Units

English Meaning

ATLAS

Command D.A.K. (old)

 

BLAUMEISE

probably KoRueck in Tripoli, definitely supply office in charge of column transport in rear area North Africa.

Bluetit

EVA

   

FAULPELZ

regiment with at least two battalions

Idler

GITARRE

connected to Arko 104?

Guitar

GOETHE

   

HECKENROSE

Army equipment office?

Hedgerose

IDA AFFE

 

Monkey

IDA BIENE

Fremde Heere West, probably Rome office

Bee

IDA BUEFFEL

 

Buffalo

IDA CHAMELEON

Could be the Abwehr office in Rome (Wehrmacht secret service

 

IDA DELPHIN

 

Dolphin

IDA DRACHEN

 

Dragon

IDA ENTE

could be organisation department

Duck

IDA ESEL

could be medical in Rome

Donkey

IDA GANS IV

connected to intelligence equipment, Rome?

Goose

IDA HENNE

Chef AW – LB(?)

Chicken

IDA MAIKAEFER

could be medical, Italy

Cockchafer

IDA PANTHER

   

IDA PINTSCHER

Liaison staff, Rome

Lapdog/pipsqueak

IDA QUALLE

Arms and equipment, probably Italy

Jellyfish

IDA REGENWURM

Could be personnel office in Italy

Earthworm

IDA RATTE

 

Rat

KAKAOBOHNE

 

Cocoa Bean

KAPUZINER

could be naval station Tripoli

Capucin

KURFUERST

Q.M.G. Abt. 4 C-in-C Luftwaffe

Duke Elect

LAUBFROSCH

 

Tree Frog

NIMMERSATT

 

Glutton

OTTO ELEFANT

Panzergruppe Afrika

 

OTTO FUCHS

based at GAMBUT, has a G.A.F. liaison officer

Fox

OTTO HAMSTER

Oberquartiermeister (Panzergruppe?)

 

OTTO LUCHS

Ic of Panzergruppe

Lynx

OTTO TAUBE

Could be signals office of Panzergruppe

Pigeon

OTTO TIGER

Connected to Panzergruppe

 

PETER

unknown unit

 

SCHWAN

Regiment with three battalions

Swan

STAUBTUCH

command D.A.K. (new)

Dustwipe

SULTAN

Fliegerkorps X

 

UNGEHORSAM

could be personnel office

Disobedience

VOGELBAUER

could be a unit

Birdcage

ZAHNPASTA

could be interim supply/personnel point, at Benghazi

Toothpaste

Group: Supply columns on Via Balbia

English Meaning

BUTTERFASS

 

Butter Barrel

ERBONKEL

 

Rich Uncle

FETTFLECK

 

Fat Spot

GOTTFRIED

   

HAL

   

LUFTBALLON

 

Balloon

TAKTSTOCK

 

Conductor’s Baton

Group: Places

English Meaning

AMTSGERICHT

Benghazi

County Court

BLEISTIFT

On Via Balbia

Lead pencil

BOTENFRAU

 

Female Messenger

GEHEIMRAT

 

Senior Civil Servant (Secret Advisor)

IDEALIST

Derna

 

KARFUNKEL

Benghazi

Carbuncle

LEUCHTKAEFER

Tripoli

Glowworm

SULTAN

Naples

 

TOMATE

Brindisi

Tomatoe

URSULA

   

VERGISSMEINNICHT

 

Forgetmenot

Group: Material

English Meaning

Elisabeth

unknown, could be ammunition or fuel

 

Jagdschloss

Type of ammunition

Huntin lodge

Juwelier

ammunition

Jeweller

Rabenvater

engine oil(?)

Negligent Father

Rasiermesser

Gear oil (?)

Shaving knife

Reibeisen

axle grease (?)

Grater

Quaeker

‘O’ petrol

Quaker

Quaelgeist

Diesel

Troublesome person

Group: Ships

English Meaning

ALBATROS

Wachtfels