Bletchley Park code breaking centre and Enigma

Photos of the home of Britain's brilliantly successful attacks on German, Italian and Japanese radio messages encrypted using Enigma, Lorenz and other machines during the Second World War. Some of Britain's best brains were employed, and in the course of the war they developed the first computers. But they owed much to pioneering work by the Poles, and to the seizure of Enigma codebooks and machines by the Royal Navy, some of whose members died in the process. They were also indebted to the thousands of men and women who worked round the clock at Bletchley Park, and in the 'Y' stations where enemy messages were monitored, scrupulously recorded and sent by teleprinter or despatch rider to Bletchley. Bletchley Park became a huge operation, with over 7,000 staff. By the end of 1942 they were reading some 4,000 high grade German signals a day, and slightly fewer Italian and Japanese signals. It was not until 1974 that the work of Bletchley Park became public knowledge. I have also included 11 photos of six Enigma machines.

Welcome to Bletchley Park ('Station X')! 29 December 2012. During the Second World War this Victorian mansion and its grounds, only 10 minutes' walk from Bletchley train station, became home to Britain's brilliantly successful attacks on German, Italian and Japanese radio messsages encrypted using Enigma, Lorenz and other machines. Some of Britain's best brains were employed, and in the course of the war they developed the first computers. But they owed much to pioneering work by the Poles, and to the seizure of Enigma codebooks and machines by the Royal Navy, some of whose members died in the process. They were also indebted to the thousands of men and women who worked round the clock at Bletchley Park, and in the 'Y' stations where enemy messages were monitored, scrupulously recorded and sent by teleprinter or despatch rider to Bletchley. Bletchley Park became a huge operation, with over 7,000 staff. By the end of 1942 they were reading some 4,000 high grade German signals a day, and slightly fewer Italian and Japanese signals. But it should not be forgotten that the Germans were able to break key British naval cyphers until 1943...

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Welcome to Bletchley Park ('Station X')! 29 December 2012. During the Second World War this Victorian mansion and its grounds, only 10 minutes' walk from Bletchley train station, became home to Britain's brilliantly successful attacks on German, Italian and Japanese radio messsages encrypted using Enigma, Lorenz and other machines. Some of Britain's best brains were employed, and in the course of the war they developed the first computers. But they owed much to pioneering work by the Poles, and to the seizure of Enigma codebooks and machines by the Royal Navy, some of whose members died in the process. They were also indebted to the thousands of men and women who worked round the clock at Bletchley Park, and in the 'Y' stations where enemy messages were monitored, scrupulously recorded and sent by teleprinter or despatch rider to Bletchley. Bletchley Park became a huge operation, with over 7,000 staff. By the end of 1942 they were reading some 4,000 high grade German signals a day, and slightly fewer Italian and Japanese signals. But it should not be forgotten that the Germans were able to break key British naval cyphers until 1943...

Bletchley Park code breaking centre photos Enigma code breaking centre photos