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Bletchley Park 18-7-25 23 Mansion The Drawing Room

18th September 1938

As Hitler demands territory in Czechoslovakia, war seems inevitable. GC&CS sends most of its staff from London to Bletchley Park and prepares for the oncoming conflict. For three weeks, around 70 staff work from the mansion. When locals ask questions, staff say they are here for the pheasant shooting season. Work starts immediately but the conditions are crammed and chaotic, with mounds of books and papers scattered around. There are too many people crammed in for the codebreakers to concentrate. Even so, there are not enough of them to do everything.

War is avoided when Hitler is allowed to seize Czechoslovakian territory. It would not be, as Neville Chamberlain claims, “ peace for our time” but it is a breathing space. CG&CS uses it to learn the lessons of this first move.

The codebreakers return to London, When they come back to Bletchley Park, they willl be better prepared.

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Uploaded on July 22, 2025
Taken on July 16, 2025