Cryptography During WWI and WWII
During WWI, a teletype cipher was proposed whereby a key kept on a paper tape would be combined character by character with the plaintext message to produce the output ciphertext. Later on, electromechanical devices known as cipher machines were developed, as well as the one time pad.
Prior to WWII, more advanced mathematical crypto methods were used. Cryptanalysis developments lead to the German army’s break into the invention of the Enigma System in 1932. However, it wasn’t until the development of computers and internet that cryptography and cryptanalysis became more mathematical and much more effective.
The Enigma machine was widely used in WWII by the German Nazis. Enigma is an electromechanical rotor machine used by the German Army to provide vital ultra intelligence. At the time of the Second World War, electromechanical cipher machines were widely used; although these machines were impractical, the use of manual systems was preferred. The development of the Enigma machine was considered to be the greatest breakthrough in cryptanalysis in at thousand years.
Prior to WWII, more advanced mathematical crypto methods were used. Cryptanalysis developments lead to the German army’s break into the invention of the Enigma System in 1932. However, it wasn’t until the development of computers and internet that cryptography and cryptanalysis became more mathematical and much more effective.
The Enigma machine was widely used in WWII by the German Nazis. Enigma is an electromechanical rotor machine used by the German Army to provide vital ultra intelligence. At the time of the Second World War, electromechanical cipher machines were widely used; although these machines were impractical, the use of manual systems was preferred. The development of the Enigma machine was considered to be the greatest breakthrough in cryptanalysis in at thousand years.
Soon after the war started, key cipher personnel were sent to break the Enigma, with the collaboration of British cryptographists they managed to speed up on the breaking of Enigma. With the help of British cryptographers, the scale and technology of Enigma decryption substantially advanced. After the war ended, the British kept the breaking of Enigma secret fearing that if the Germans were to find out, they would say that they were not defeated fairly.
The US navy cryptographers managed to break into several Japanese Navy crypto systems with the cooperation of British and Dutch cryptographers which led them into victory. The German military also deployed several mechanical attempts at a one-time pad. The invention of the world’s first programmable digital electronic computer, the Colossus, helped with the cryptanalysis.
Also, during the war, a Bombe electromechanical code breaking machine was built. It simulated the rotor movements of the four-rotor Enigma. As the war progressed, the Bombes were supplanted by much faster all-electronic machines with electronic ring counters simulating the rotors.
The US navy cryptographers managed to break into several Japanese Navy crypto systems with the cooperation of British and Dutch cryptographers which led them into victory. The German military also deployed several mechanical attempts at a one-time pad. The invention of the world’s first programmable digital electronic computer, the Colossus, helped with the cryptanalysis.
Also, during the war, a Bombe electromechanical code breaking machine was built. It simulated the rotor movements of the four-rotor Enigma. As the war progressed, the Bombes were supplanted by much faster all-electronic machines with electronic ring counters simulating the rotors.