Late (four rotor) Enigma en-/decryption device
Seen in the Museum for Communication, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
The Enigma, arguably a fascinating piece of technology, was introduced in Germany after WW1 to provide a supposedly uncrackable means of encryption.
The later 4 rotor (M4) Enigma was introduced by the Germans during the war and temporarily foiled the ability of the British to read the German military communications.
Polish experts had found a way to crack the decrypt German communications and took their knowledge to the British, who from then on were as well informed about German operations as was the German High Command. These happy circumstances ended when the Germans upgraded their Enigma and changed the code.
In October 1942, in an act of bravery that changed the course of the war, two RN servicemen, Lt. Tony Fasson, GC and Able Seaman Colin Grazier, GC, entered the abandoned and foundering German type VIIc submarine U559 and retrieved codebooks that were instrumental in cracking the updated German code, eventually returning to the British full insight into all German plans and operations. Fasson and Grazier were still aboard the submarine and drowned when she suddenly sank like a stone.
Although they were posthumously awarded the George Cross (they were not eligible for a VC because their deeds were not performed in the presence of the enemy), the event was not publicised, for obvious reasons. Nevertheless, it is hard to overstate its significance. It may well be that this was the single most significant act of individual heroism in the entire war.
Camera: Leica R7 (10068), made in 1996
Lens: Leitz Summilux-R 50 mm 2nd model (11776)
Kodak Portra 800 colour negative film
Developed and scanned by www.meinfilmlab.de
Late (four rotor) Enigma en-/decryption device
Seen in the Museum for Communication, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
The Enigma, arguably a fascinating piece of technology, was introduced in Germany after WW1 to provide a supposedly uncrackable means of encryption.
The later 4 rotor (M4) Enigma was introduced by the Germans during the war and temporarily foiled the ability of the British to read the German military communications.
Polish experts had found a way to crack the decrypt German communications and took their knowledge to the British, who from then on were as well informed about German operations as was the German High Command. These happy circumstances ended when the Germans upgraded their Enigma and changed the code.
In October 1942, in an act of bravery that changed the course of the war, two RN servicemen, Lt. Tony Fasson, GC and Able Seaman Colin Grazier, GC, entered the abandoned and foundering German type VIIc submarine U559 and retrieved codebooks that were instrumental in cracking the updated German code, eventually returning to the British full insight into all German plans and operations. Fasson and Grazier were still aboard the submarine and drowned when she suddenly sank like a stone.
Although they were posthumously awarded the George Cross (they were not eligible for a VC because their deeds were not performed in the presence of the enemy), the event was not publicised, for obvious reasons. Nevertheless, it is hard to overstate its significance. It may well be that this was the single most significant act of individual heroism in the entire war.
Camera: Leica R7 (10068), made in 1996
Lens: Leitz Summilux-R 50 mm 2nd model (11776)
Kodak Portra 800 colour negative film
Developed and scanned by www.meinfilmlab.de