Page 335 - 4096-BOOK2

333
With its incredible enciphering power and yet relatively simple operations, the Enigma cipher
machine became one of the most significant pieces of technology in the World War II era. Early
in the war, the Enigma machine allowed the German war machine to coordinate its famous blitzkrieg
attacks overrunning much of the European continent using rapid and secure communications and was
also a critical component in coordinating the devastating U-boat “wolfpack” attacks on Allied shipping
at sea. The German military was naturally cautious to keep their codes and system secret.
However, while
Enigma enciphered
messages sound nearly
unbreakable given
the complexity and
unfathomable number
of keys, those that
understood cryptography
knew it could be done.
Even before World
War II began, Polish
mathematicians had
made breakthroughs
despite not initially
even having access to a
correct Enigma model.
They instead were able
to reconstruct their own machine as well as complex computing machines used to break the codes.
French and British intelligence received from the Poles reconstructed Enigma machines and
code breaking information from their Polish counterparts in 1939 shortly before the invasion
of Poland and set to work.
“I do not imagine that any war
since classical times, if ever, has
been fought in which one side reads
consistently the main military and
naval intelligence of the other.”
- Stuart Milner-Barry, Leading
Cryptologist at Bletchley Park
Bletchley Park during World War II - Center of Allied code breaking
Technician working on a "Bombe" machine at Bletchley Park
Alan Turing
(1912-1954)