ABOUT US
The Secret Service Bureau, the first incarnation of the Security Service, was established in 1909 to combat Imperial Germany's espionage operations in the United Kingdom.
During the run-up to the First World War and during the war itself, German spies sought to obtain political, military and industrial secrets that would have benefited their country's war effort.
The Service proved effective in combating this threat. It successfully broke up the German spy network in the UK on the eve of the declaration of war. During the war, a further 35 spies were captured. Several were executed, with the rest being imprisoned or interned.
The following pages provide more information on how the Service came into existence and its fight against German espionage between 1909 and 1918.