Enigma!
This is coolbert:
In a number of prior blog entries, I have referred to ULTRA intelligence.
I feel some elucidation is required here for those uninitiated in ULTRA.
This is the intelligence that was derived from the intercept and decryption by the allied powers of high-level, secret, encrypted German radio message traffic during World War Two [WW2].
Intelligence that DID play a vital, contributing role toward eventual defeat of the German war machine.
Several new and unique concepts were at work here that made this all possible. The fact that modern warfare of the type fought in WW2 was based to a large extent upon entire military units employing fast-moving internal combustion engine powered machines [tanks]. Units that could be controlled from afar by commanders using long-radio communication to issue orders.
A means had to be available to secure the message traffic of the long-radio communications from unintended recipients [enemy radio interceptors].
The German military, in the early 1930's, decided to standardize their secure message communications via the Enigma cipher machine. An electro-mechanical cipher machine based upon a commercial version first developed in the 1920’s. A electro-mechanical cipher machine strengthened and made more secure by German cryptographic experts who added a number of modifications to the basic commercial version. An improved electro-mechanical cipher machine that was soon in mass production by the German military. A cipher machine of the most complex order referred to by the Germans as ENIGMA.
As to the strength of the Enigma machine from producing enciphered messages that would be UNREADABLE by unintended recipients, the German experts were counting NOT upon ABSOLUTE security, but that the Enigma would provide more than adequate security. More than adequate security that would defeat efforts at cryptanalysis for such a period of time that any intelligence gained from decrypting and reading the secure German radio traffic would not be actionable. An example of this would be:
If a message secured by Enigma is sent on a Sunday, that message saying, "Convoy sails from Sicily on Monday, arrives in Tunisia on Wednesday", and the allied radio interceptors do not decipher this message until the following Friday, intercept and decryption of the message by the allies does them NO GOOD!! YOU DO NOT HAVE ACTIONABLE INTELLIGENCE BY READING THE SECRET MESSAGE!!
German experts would have probably conceded that secret messages secured by the Enigma machine were in a theoretical sense "readable". They would not have conceded that those secret messages could be decrypted in enough time to create actionable intelligence. By using the Enigma machine, the Germans believed they had created an insurmountable problem for allied enemy radio interceptors and cryptanalysts.
This insurmountable problem, however, was found TO BE surmountable.
The Poles were the first to overcome the seemingly insurmountable problem created by Enigma. A team of highly motivated and skilled Polish mathematicians, using a combination of complex equations, a light table, and an electro-mechanical apparatus called a "bombe", were, after much laborious effort, able to "read" Enigma secured German military radio traffic. And read this traffic in such a manner that actionable intelligence could be obtained.
[The Poles were keenly aware of the value from developing intelligence based on the intercept and decryption of enemy secure message traffic. The "Miracle on the Vistula", the defeat of Soviet forces in 1920 by the newly formed Polish Army, was made largely possible by the intercept of insecure Soviet radio communications. Intercepts, that when analyzed, provided ACTIONABLE INTELLIGENCE for the Poles. Actionable intelligence that led to a Soviet defeat that was totally unexpected.]
[Amazingly, the head of the Polish mathematical team HAD in his possession, an Enigma machine and the keys for same. He DID NOT reveal this to this team of mathematicians as he wanted them to develop their skill WITHOUT resorting to "working aids". That the Polish math team was able to succeed as they did is a stupendous achievement!!!]
Following the outbreak of WW2 in 1939, French and British cryptanalysts, benefiting from the breakthrough of the Poles, also were able to "read" Enigma messages, and do so in a manner to create actionable intelligence.
I feel some elucidation is required here for those uninitiated in ULTRA.
This is the intelligence that was derived from the intercept and decryption by the allied powers of high-level, secret, encrypted German radio message traffic during World War Two [WW2].
Intelligence that DID play a vital, contributing role toward eventual defeat of the German war machine.
Several new and unique concepts were at work here that made this all possible. The fact that modern warfare of the type fought in WW2 was based to a large extent upon entire military units employing fast-moving internal combustion engine powered machines [tanks]. Units that could be controlled from afar by commanders using long-radio communication to issue orders.
A means had to be available to secure the message traffic of the long-radio communications from unintended recipients [enemy radio interceptors].
The German military, in the early 1930's, decided to standardize their secure message communications via the Enigma cipher machine. An electro-mechanical cipher machine based upon a commercial version first developed in the 1920’s. A electro-mechanical cipher machine strengthened and made more secure by German cryptographic experts who added a number of modifications to the basic commercial version. An improved electro-mechanical cipher machine that was soon in mass production by the German military. A cipher machine of the most complex order referred to by the Germans as ENIGMA.
As to the strength of the Enigma machine from producing enciphered messages that would be UNREADABLE by unintended recipients, the German experts were counting NOT upon ABSOLUTE security, but that the Enigma would provide more than adequate security. More than adequate security that would defeat efforts at cryptanalysis for such a period of time that any intelligence gained from decrypting and reading the secure German radio traffic would not be actionable. An example of this would be:
If a message secured by Enigma is sent on a Sunday, that message saying, "Convoy sails from Sicily on Monday, arrives in Tunisia on Wednesday", and the allied radio interceptors do not decipher this message until the following Friday, intercept and decryption of the message by the allies does them NO GOOD!! YOU DO NOT HAVE ACTIONABLE INTELLIGENCE BY READING THE SECRET MESSAGE!!
German experts would have probably conceded that secret messages secured by the Enigma machine were in a theoretical sense "readable". They would not have conceded that those secret messages could be decrypted in enough time to create actionable intelligence. By using the Enigma machine, the Germans believed they had created an insurmountable problem for allied enemy radio interceptors and cryptanalysts.
This insurmountable problem, however, was found TO BE surmountable.
The Poles were the first to overcome the seemingly insurmountable problem created by Enigma. A team of highly motivated and skilled Polish mathematicians, using a combination of complex equations, a light table, and an electro-mechanical apparatus called a "bombe", were, after much laborious effort, able to "read" Enigma secured German military radio traffic. And read this traffic in such a manner that actionable intelligence could be obtained.
[The Poles were keenly aware of the value from developing intelligence based on the intercept and decryption of enemy secure message traffic. The "Miracle on the Vistula", the defeat of Soviet forces in 1920 by the newly formed Polish Army, was made largely possible by the intercept of insecure Soviet radio communications. Intercepts, that when analyzed, provided ACTIONABLE INTELLIGENCE for the Poles. Actionable intelligence that led to a Soviet defeat that was totally unexpected.]
[Amazingly, the head of the Polish mathematical team HAD in his possession, an Enigma machine and the keys for same. He DID NOT reveal this to this team of mathematicians as he wanted them to develop their skill WITHOUT resorting to "working aids". That the Polish math team was able to succeed as they did is a stupendous achievement!!!]
Following the outbreak of WW2 in 1939, French and British cryptanalysts, benefiting from the breakthrough of the Poles, also were able to "read" Enigma messages, and do so in a manner to create actionable intelligence.
The British in particular, and the Americans after them, institutionalized and industrialized the decryption process of Enigma secured messages to a marked degree.
To further advance the decryption process, British Post Office electrical engineers were able to develop what was called "Colussus". A electronic machine that has been called the first COMPUTER. Indeed, it has been said that the entire history of the electronic computer has to rewritten in light of the development of the "Colussus"!!!
[The existence of "Colussus" was a secret for thirty years following the end of WW2. As was the secret of the exploitation of decrypted Enigma messages.]
[Strangely enough, during the war years, German cryptanalysts DID conclude that the Enigma cipher machine WAS subject to attack. Employing a method of sliding strips, a method of "attack" different from what the Poles, French, British and Americans used, these German experts were themselves able to "read" messages secured by the Enigma machine. At this point, the Germans had such an investment and confidence in the Enigma machine that there was no going back. A new system could NOT be fielded and used in sufficient time to make a difference!]
Although it is generally accepted that the successful allied effort to create actionable intelligence by "reading" Enigma secured traffic shortened the war and reduced casualties considerably, keep in mind that it was still a hard fight and a long slog to defeat the German war machine!!
And the fact that the secret of reading Enigma was kept secret for a thirty year period after the end of the war is also remarkable!!
[The British, capturing thousands of Enigma machines at the end of the war, presented these machines to various colonies that were on the verge of independence. These colonial governments were told that , "Enigma was a secure system they could rely upon to safeguard their communications!!". Whoa!!]
And what of the Soviets?? Calcoveressi states that he believes the Soviets DID also have success in "reading" Enigma traffic during the war. He also states that in all probability the Soviets DID NOT have the same degree of success as did the British and Americans. Were able to "read" Enigma messages, but not in the same quantity or timeliness as did the allies!!
coolbert.
[The existence of "Colussus" was a secret for thirty years following the end of WW2. As was the secret of the exploitation of decrypted Enigma messages.]
[Strangely enough, during the war years, German cryptanalysts DID conclude that the Enigma cipher machine WAS subject to attack. Employing a method of sliding strips, a method of "attack" different from what the Poles, French, British and Americans used, these German experts were themselves able to "read" messages secured by the Enigma machine. At this point, the Germans had such an investment and confidence in the Enigma machine that there was no going back. A new system could NOT be fielded and used in sufficient time to make a difference!]
Although it is generally accepted that the successful allied effort to create actionable intelligence by "reading" Enigma secured traffic shortened the war and reduced casualties considerably, keep in mind that it was still a hard fight and a long slog to defeat the German war machine!!
And the fact that the secret of reading Enigma was kept secret for a thirty year period after the end of the war is also remarkable!!
[The British, capturing thousands of Enigma machines at the end of the war, presented these machines to various colonies that were on the verge of independence. These colonial governments were told that , "Enigma was a secure system they could rely upon to safeguard their communications!!". Whoa!!]
And what of the Soviets?? Calcoveressi states that he believes the Soviets DID also have success in "reading" Enigma traffic during the war. He also states that in all probability the Soviets DID NOT have the same degree of success as did the British and Americans. Were able to "read" Enigma messages, but not in the same quantity or timeliness as did the allies!!
coolbert.
Labels: Crypto.
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