TICOM
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TICOM (Target Intelligence Committee) was a project formed immediately after the end of World War II by the United States to find and seize German intelligence assets, particularly cryptographic ones. The project was stimulated chiefly by the US military cryptography organizations, and had support from the highest levels.
Several teams were sent into the field immediately behind the fighting front. Captured German cryptographic personnel revealed that, amongst the cryptographers anyway, the Enigma was clearly recognized as breakable. They had simply believed, it seems, that no one would go to the immense trouble required for the only attacks they could see.
TICOM was one of several efforts made by Allies to extract German scientific and technological information and personnel during and after the war. Others included Operation Paperclip (for rocketry) and Operation ALSOS (for nuclear information).
References
- Body of Secrets, by James Bamford (includes material on the TICOM take)