The enigma machine
What is an enigma machine?
How the eigma machine works!
Like other rotor machines, the Enigma machine is a combination of mechanical and electrical subsystems. The mechanical subsystem consists of a keyboard; a set of rotating disks called rotors arranged adjacently along a spindle; and one of various stepping components to turn one or more of the rotors with each key press.
How used the enigma machine?
Far from being a single design, there are numerous models and variants of the Enigma family. The earliest Enigma machines were commercial models dating from the early 1920s. Starting in the mid-1920s, the various branches of the German military began to use Enigma, making a number of changes in order to increase its security. In addition, a number of other nations either adopted or adapted the Enigma design for their own cipher machines.The Navy was the first branch of the German military to adopt Enigma. This version, named Funkschlüssel , had been put into production by 1925 and was introduced into service in 1926. The Italian Navy, the Spanish, The Swiss , Poland, France, the United Kingdom and the United States all used the enigma machine.
How the enigma machine was used in WW2
During World War II the Abwehr used these machines to control and report the locations of submarines in the Atlantic and to pass information about bombing raids, the movement of military units, and the location and cargo of military supply ships. Before the use of the enigma machine Britain was in danger of being starved into submission and after it the roles were virtually reversed. The British were now one step ahead of the Germans and sinking submarines faster than they could be built. Other countries also used Enigma machine It has been estimated that 100,000 Enigma machines were constructed. During World War II the Abwehr used these machines to control and report the locations of submarines in the Atlantic and to pass information about bombing raids, the movement of military units, and the location and cargo of military supply ships. Before the use of the enigma machine Britain was in danger of being starved into submission and after it the roles were virtually reversed. The British were now one step ahead of the Germans and sinking submarines faster than they could be built. Other countries also used Enigma machine.