The SS operated two major spy schools during World War II--A-Schule West near The Hague in the Netherlands and A-Schule Ost in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. These "agent schools" taught men and women the tradecraft of espionage, such as Morse code, radio operation, placement of explosives, how to ride a motorcycle, and use of guns, including firing various types of pistols with both the right and left hand (in the event one was injured). The technical classes would correspond to the agent's intended assignment and were small, five or six students seeming to be the maximum.

Physcial training was also stressed and there was some Nazi political indoctrination, as required in most educational activities of the Third Reich.

The students' stay at A-Schule also varied, being measured in weeks and months. They could leave the school at night only if accompanied by a member of the staff.

There were several lesser German spy schools during the war.