The Enigma Machine

The Enigma machine was a German encryption device. It was the first of its kind it in many ways. It was the first encryption device to fully randomize its code creating well over a trillion possibilities for the answer. It was also the first code machine to integrate usage of a switchboard that could expand its possibilities even further, effectively becoming the most advanced computer of its day. Although there are several alternative meanings, to the Germans this meant a thin line between victory and defeat. During World War II the allies not only intercepted encrypted messages, they also broke them, but not without the help of Alan Turing.

In the early years of World War II, the airways in Poland were flooded with coded messages that created confusion with the cryptanalysts working in the cipher bureau. Over a course of several years in Poland they received thousands of messages but still hadn't deciphered any. In 1930 they had found the source of their problem - Germany had hired Hans Schmidt, the inventor of the Enigma machine. This machine enabled Germany to send messages effortlessly with the knowledge that the codes could not be broken. Initially, there was one version that could be used publicly, but soon the German military contracted Schmidt to build a machine that only the military could use.

It wasn't until 1932, when Marian Rejewski broke the Enigma code that Poland started to feel the fear of an oncoming invasion by Germany. Without the knowledge of the security breach, Germany sent out a machine to every military outpost in preparation for the war. The Polish government listened closely to the airways, trying to pick up any information they could. They sent out spies to intercept messages in hopes of learning more about their neighbor's plans.

It was only by chance that the polish government was able to break the Enigma code for the first time. A man working at the Head Quarters in Berlin contacted a French operative in hopes of exchanging classified information for money. The French agreed and after exchanging money and information several times they found it of little use and then forwarded it to the Poles, enabling them to crack the code for the first time. Nearing the end of the exchanges between the French operative and the inside man, there was a particular document that was passed: its value would cost the French one hundred thousands dollars, an equivalent of 1 million dollars in today's market. The document was a complete diagram of the Enigma machine. This did little to help France and they once again sent the information right to Poland. The machine had three main routers. With this information, Marian Rejewski was able to mathematically determine the wiring of one of the three routers. He used the diagram to invent a machine he called a "bombe". This machine would take two keys that