THE BRITISH had Ultra as well as their Y Service and the Germans had Hauptmann Seeböhm's Nachrichten-Fern-Aufklaerung Kompanie 621 (wireless intercept/signals company).

Ultra was still being developed whilst Seebhöhm's service was mature. Ultra was more a strategic weapon. Seeböhm was able to provide invaluable information to Rommel primarily because the allies were lax with wireless security.

Seeböhm's unit was also reading America's embassy Black Code.