Beurling.

This is coolbert:

“I have met many gifted persons in my day, but only one genius. I need not mention his name.” - - Ake Lundqvist.

“He was a demi-god, so I was very proud.” - - Gunnar Blom.

Here is more on Arne Beurling.

If the Swedish accounts of the "breaking" of the geheimschreiber machine are true and factual, then this feat of Mr. Arne must standout as perhaps the GREATEST cryptanalytic achievement of ALL TIME.



"cryptanalyst n : decoder skilled in the analysis of codes and cryptograms"

In contrast to cryptanalytic counter-parts in a variety of nations, Mr. Arne did NOT have or had access to:

* A team of mathematicians to aid him??

* An abundance of traffic available for analysis [Arne had only one days worth].

* A knowledge of the cryptographic algorithm being used.

* A "peek" at the machine itself.

* An abundance of "machines" [Hollerith processors] to aid the analytical process.

* Collateral intelligence that could aid in the cryptanalytic effort.

Keep in mind that the geheimschreiber was considered by the German to be secure by a magnitude beyond that of the ENIGMA machine already in operation.

Mr. Arne reached a general solution in TWO WEEKS!!

Whoa boy!!

Consider that:

* The American TEAM of mathematicians that "broke" the Japanese PURPLE machine took eighteen months to do so.

* The Polish, French [for a short time], and then the British could "read" ENIGMA, but then only after years of effort, accompanied by the fruits of espionage [agent "Asche"], manuals, schematics, captured working machines, keylists, "peeks", working aids, an abundance of encrypted traffic, and TEAMS of mathematicians working in concert, etc.

The efforts of American, Polish, French, and British cryptanalysts would seem TO PALE IN COMPARISON with the efforts and achievement of Arne Beurling!!??

Let me offer a suggestion here as to what may have also been in play and NOT acknowledged.

[and never will be acknowledged either!!]

In the years prior to WW2, the Russian emigre' Boris Hagelin set up shop in Sweden. Manufactured and sold WORLD WIDE his Hagelin cryptographic machines. A competitor to the commercial version of the ENIGMA. As a normal course of his business, Boris WOULD HAVE HAD TO BEEN conversant in all the latest cryptographic developments and advancement on an again, WORLD WIDE BASIS. Perhaps whatever information Boris was able to glean was passed on to Arne? I am only speculating here!

Arne Beurling. Crypto genius numero uno??!! Perhaps!!

coolbert.