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Pan Grand Strategy Series
The Secrets of Station X: The Fight to Break the Enigma Cypher
When the British military commandeered Bletchley Park in 1939 no one would have guessed that by 1945 its inmates would have contributed decisively to the Allied war effort.
A melting pot of Oxbridge dons and maverick oddballs worked night and day at Station X to decode the Enigma cypher used by the Germans for high-level communications. That they succeeded, changing the course of the war, is testament to an indomitable spirit that wrenched British intelligence into the modern age, as World War II segued into the Cold War.
A melting pot of Oxbridge dons and maverick oddballs worked night and day at Station X to decode the Enigma cypher used by the Germans for high-level communications. That they succeeded, changing the course of the war, is testament to an indomitable spirit that wrenched British intelligence into the modern age, as World War II segued into the Cold War.
295 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
129 people are currently reading
1685 people want to read
About the author
Michael Smith
26 books49 followersThere is more than one Michael Smith in the database.
Michael Smith is a British author and screenwriter who specializes in spies and espionage.
Source: Wikipedia.
Michael Smith is a British author and screenwriter who specializes in spies and espionage.
Source: Wikipedia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
January 20, 2015
I first visited Bletchley Park (BP) before significant funding was secured to restore buildings and exhibit extensive displays. Then there was an extraordinarily wonderful atmosphere. The weeds were growing, just as if the press of wartime codebreakers and ancillary staff had vacated the site only a year before. Evidence of the removal of equipment could be seen; whilst more forlornly awaited in situ and in odd corners for repair and restoration. I saw only a handful of other visitors that day, stark in contrast to the other-worldly hubbub of the movement of and the ringing bicycle bells, by the ghosts of wartime.
I could have bought Michael Smith’s book from the museum’s shop on my second visit to BP, but I didn’t. I thought I knew it all. I arrogantly didn’t rate a correspondent of a British broadsheet. My preference is for material written by eyewitnesses; though by the very nature of BP’s highly secretive work, where such material does exist, it is unpublished.
So, what luck to find Smith’s book, with three new chapters and a bibliography, published in the Pan Grand Strategy Series. And at a very good second-hand price. Reader, I loved it!
Of the accounts of the work at BP during the Second World War, which I have read, this has been the first from which I have gained a firm and relatively detailed understanding as to how the chronology of the War was altered by the intelligence gained through breaking enemy codes and ciphers; in conjunction with the cat & mouse game of vitally doing absolutely nothing to alert the enemy that their codes and ciphers were being read. Smith very ably portrays the breadth of the theatre of World War; not only through the German codes, but also the Japanese (by transliteration); and later very dicey relations with the Russians (does anything change?).
As such, this rapidly became an un-putdownable book; for so many reasons, from the funny: off-duty games of rounders with a tennis ball and a shortened broom handle; “Everybody argued about the rules and the dons just laid them down, in Latin sometimes.” [Barbara Abernathy, (p.30)] to the ruthless application of structured thought necessary to find an entry point into a new code or cipher. For the Wrens performing endless formulaic calculations with slide rules, or later minding the very noisy electromechanical ‘bombes’, designed to run at high speed through vast sets of combinations; work must have at times felt desperately disorientating, deafeningly hot and tiring. For myself, I learned that a tucked out-of-the-way government building that I used to regularly cycle past, had operated as an diplomatic traffic intercept station, working directly with Bletchley Park during WW2. I now wonder what role it fulfils today?
How a World War changed so many ‘ordinary’ lives is perhaps the most humbling aspect of this book. For many at BP, some caught up by what appeared pure chance; it was the most intense and ‘best’ time of their lives. When Peace came, life was never quite the same again. Relatively brief periods of rapid change are one thing, I pondered. How many subsequently progressed into rewarding peacetime careers at GCHQ (www.gchq.gov.uk)?
I could have bought Michael Smith’s book from the museum’s shop on my second visit to BP, but I didn’t. I thought I knew it all. I arrogantly didn’t rate a correspondent of a British broadsheet. My preference is for material written by eyewitnesses; though by the very nature of BP’s highly secretive work, where such material does exist, it is unpublished.
So, what luck to find Smith’s book, with three new chapters and a bibliography, published in the Pan Grand Strategy Series. And at a very good second-hand price. Reader, I loved it!
Of the accounts of the work at BP during the Second World War, which I have read, this has been the first from which I have gained a firm and relatively detailed understanding as to how the chronology of the War was altered by the intelligence gained through breaking enemy codes and ciphers; in conjunction with the cat & mouse game of vitally doing absolutely nothing to alert the enemy that their codes and ciphers were being read. Smith very ably portrays the breadth of the theatre of World War; not only through the German codes, but also the Japanese (by transliteration); and later very dicey relations with the Russians (does anything change?).
As such, this rapidly became an un-putdownable book; for so many reasons, from the funny: off-duty games of rounders with a tennis ball and a shortened broom handle; “Everybody argued about the rules and the dons just laid them down, in Latin sometimes.” [Barbara Abernathy, (p.30)] to the ruthless application of structured thought necessary to find an entry point into a new code or cipher. For the Wrens performing endless formulaic calculations with slide rules, or later minding the very noisy electromechanical ‘bombes’, designed to run at high speed through vast sets of combinations; work must have at times felt desperately disorientating, deafeningly hot and tiring. For myself, I learned that a tucked out-of-the-way government building that I used to regularly cycle past, had operated as an diplomatic traffic intercept station, working directly with Bletchley Park during WW2. I now wonder what role it fulfils today?
How a World War changed so many ‘ordinary’ lives is perhaps the most humbling aspect of this book. For many at BP, some caught up by what appeared pure chance; it was the most intense and ‘best’ time of their lives. When Peace came, life was never quite the same again. Relatively brief periods of rapid change are one thing, I pondered. How many subsequently progressed into rewarding peacetime careers at GCHQ (www.gchq.gov.uk)?
June 26, 2021
A comprehensive and authoritative account of the role of Bletchley Park in World War II – the book while written by a journalist and writer of best selling books on spies and special forces (rather than by someone more connected to the Park) was recommended to me by a very knowledgeable and enthusiastic member of staff at the bookshop at Bletchley.
The distinctive part of the book (which contains copious first party accounts based on some fourteen years of interviews by the author) is how many chapters concentrate on a particular theatre and/or phase of the war – explaining how Bletchley Park intelligence was used alongside more conventional tactics and evaluating the relative role it played. This I think gives the book more balance and a wider scope than many accounts.
I found the sections on say North Africa (where the Army first used the Park’s decrypts operationally) and Eastern Europe (where the messages identified the atrocities against Jews carried out by the police forces following the German Army’s advance) were particularly interesting.
If there is a weakness it is perhaps in the description of the actual code breaking techniques - only really once (on a relatively obscure code - the Double Playfair) is there really a detailed example given.
The distinctive part of the book (which contains copious first party accounts based on some fourteen years of interviews by the author) is how many chapters concentrate on a particular theatre and/or phase of the war – explaining how Bletchley Park intelligence was used alongside more conventional tactics and evaluating the relative role it played. This I think gives the book more balance and a wider scope than many accounts.
I found the sections on say North Africa (where the Army first used the Park’s decrypts operationally) and Eastern Europe (where the messages identified the atrocities against Jews carried out by the police forces following the German Army’s advance) were particularly interesting.
If there is a weakness it is perhaps in the description of the actual code breaking techniques - only really once (on a relatively obscure code - the Double Playfair) is there really a detailed example given.
August 22, 2020
A fascinating account of the incredible things that went on in Bletchley Park in the Second World War. I visited Bletchley Park around one and half months ago and was really impressed with it; that is what compelled me to pick this book!
If you want to teach students about BP, it's not going to be one chapter in their history curriculum; it's going to be one separate subject in itself. There was SO MUCH going on and I really admire Michael Smith for writing it all down. I'll be honest: this is NOT a light read. I first looked at it and thought, "180 pages. I am going to finish it in 6 days if not less". I was SO wrong. It takes a while to get through each chapter. You have to be really focused to take it all in! The book does not only focus on the technical details of code-breaking, but of course talks about the history of what went on in the War and how BP influenced it. Don't be too disappointed if you can't remember each and every detail after you finish reading the book. I don't remember half of it, but that's okay, because I mainly picked this book to get an overall insight into the code-breaking process and the very important role Bletchley Park played in affecting the War. I have absolute respect and admiration for the 9000 people who worked there in secret and I am 100% sure I am going to return to this book at some point in future to read about them again.
If you want to teach students about BP, it's not going to be one chapter in their history curriculum; it's going to be one separate subject in itself. There was SO MUCH going on and I really admire Michael Smith for writing it all down. I'll be honest: this is NOT a light read. I first looked at it and thought, "180 pages. I am going to finish it in 6 days if not less". I was SO wrong. It takes a while to get through each chapter. You have to be really focused to take it all in! The book does not only focus on the technical details of code-breaking, but of course talks about the history of what went on in the War and how BP influenced it. Don't be too disappointed if you can't remember each and every detail after you finish reading the book. I don't remember half of it, but that's okay, because I mainly picked this book to get an overall insight into the code-breaking process and the very important role Bletchley Park played in affecting the War. I have absolute respect and admiration for the 9000 people who worked there in secret and I am 100% sure I am going to return to this book at some point in future to read about them again.
August 4, 2018
I both liked and was annoyed by this book. I was fascinated that there were so many different enigma machines and the different ways that they were broken. Or not, periodically. And the book does an excellent job of showing the direct consequences of the work of Bletchley Park on the war. But there was a lot more of the "he did this"/"she did this" than there was about the actual cyphers. There were some good explanations in places, but too few. Overall, this was a 3 1/2 star read. I'm glad I read it, I can't ever imagine re-reading it.
April 7, 2016
I have read every book I can find about the codebreaking activities at Bletchley Park, and this is one of the best. It is ideal for anyone who already knows about the science and technology involved, including the world's first electronic programmable computer, Colossus, because the emphasis here is on the people involved and, to some extent, their backstories. Station X is an accessible and easy read, which I imagine would be almost as entertaining if it was the first book you had come across about this amazing work.
October 22, 2019
My mum gave me this book because we’re both interested in Bletchley Park and the World War II codebreakers. In fact, we’re planning on paying a visit it at some point in the near future, which is why I prioritised this book and got to it sooner rather than later. It was a good decision.
Sure, it took me a little while to work my way through it, but that tends to happen with any non-fiction book, and especially when they’re as intense or as in-depth as this one. The good news is that it was also fascinating, and I particularly enjoyed the little glimpses of the eccentric personalities who called Bletchley Park home. And because Smith did a hell of a lot of research, we can hear these accounts from the people who were actually there.
All in all then, it’s a pretty important book, especially because so much secrecy hung over what was happening at Bletchley Park that few people really know the full story. In some ways, it was kind of heartbreaking. For example, imagine helping your country to win a war, only to be told that you can’t tell your parents or your spouse about it. The restrictions were eventually lifted, but in many cases it was too late.
If you’re interested in codebreaking or in the Second World War then you’d be hard-pressed to find a better book than this one. At the same time, I can see how it might not be for everyone, and so you need to bear that in mind. It’s really up to you to decide whether it’s a good fit, but for what it’s worth it does a very good job at what it set out to do.
Sure, it took me a little while to work my way through it, but that tends to happen with any non-fiction book, and especially when they’re as intense or as in-depth as this one. The good news is that it was also fascinating, and I particularly enjoyed the little glimpses of the eccentric personalities who called Bletchley Park home. And because Smith did a hell of a lot of research, we can hear these accounts from the people who were actually there.
All in all then, it’s a pretty important book, especially because so much secrecy hung over what was happening at Bletchley Park that few people really know the full story. In some ways, it was kind of heartbreaking. For example, imagine helping your country to win a war, only to be told that you can’t tell your parents or your spouse about it. The restrictions were eventually lifted, but in many cases it was too late.
If you’re interested in codebreaking or in the Second World War then you’d be hard-pressed to find a better book than this one. At the same time, I can see how it might not be for everyone, and so you need to bear that in mind. It’s really up to you to decide whether it’s a good fit, but for what it’s worth it does a very good job at what it set out to do.
February 27, 2019
I knew a little about what had gone on at Bletchley Park before reading this book, but this a lovely look at some of the more unsung heroes of the effort, sometimes even in their own words, which was great to read. Their efforts can not be understated, and it was fascinating, not only from a breaking encryption standpoint as well as talking about how the gathered intelligence was used. Heartily recommended to anyone who is interested in the period or the history.
March 10, 2013
Who would have realised that when 'Captain Ridley's shooting party' arrived at Bletchley Park in August 1939 that a legend was about to be created. But it was to be a secret legend because no-one was to know what was going on at the establishment as those that worked there were not even allowed to tell their families what they were doing.
Admiral Sir Hugh Sinclair had bought Bletchley Park in the spring of 1938 as an evacuation site for both MI6 and the Government Code and Cypher School. And they came from all walks of life to work there but all of them were specially selected for their talents.
It was difficult work to break the German Enigma code but with a number of geniuses, and eccentrics, working there, such as Alan Turing, the inventor of the modern programmable computer, the staff were determined to achieve the end.
And they did so and without their efforts the war would probably have been prolonged for a few years. With hard work and very long hours they broke all the German codes, including 'Shark', the German U-Boat code (and while mentioning this it is worth remembering Lieutenant Anthony Fasson and Able-Seaman Colin Grazier who swam to destroyed U-Boat 559 to recover their codebooks that were the key to decoding and, having passed them up the conning tower to a NAAFI boy, Tommy Brown, went down with the boat) and 'Fish' the code used by Hitler to speak with his generals. Work on the D-Day landings was also vitally important to the events of June 1944.
Their job was sometimes made easier by the enemy using the same wheel settings on successive messages or by the use of the same introductory greeting on each message; all this gave them a head start to the decyphering process, which to a layman seems to have been no easy job.
The book has plenty of first-hand accounts of life at Bletchley Park and it seems, even though it was highly specialised and important work, that there was still time for amusement such as amatuer dramatics, music recitals and even a touch of romance between the workers.
It is an enthralling read, giving background to an extremely important, but little written about, theatre of war.
Admiral Sir Hugh Sinclair had bought Bletchley Park in the spring of 1938 as an evacuation site for both MI6 and the Government Code and Cypher School. And they came from all walks of life to work there but all of them were specially selected for their talents.
It was difficult work to break the German Enigma code but with a number of geniuses, and eccentrics, working there, such as Alan Turing, the inventor of the modern programmable computer, the staff were determined to achieve the end.
And they did so and without their efforts the war would probably have been prolonged for a few years. With hard work and very long hours they broke all the German codes, including 'Shark', the German U-Boat code (and while mentioning this it is worth remembering Lieutenant Anthony Fasson and Able-Seaman Colin Grazier who swam to destroyed U-Boat 559 to recover their codebooks that were the key to decoding and, having passed them up the conning tower to a NAAFI boy, Tommy Brown, went down with the boat) and 'Fish' the code used by Hitler to speak with his generals. Work on the D-Day landings was also vitally important to the events of June 1944.
Their job was sometimes made easier by the enemy using the same wheel settings on successive messages or by the use of the same introductory greeting on each message; all this gave them a head start to the decyphering process, which to a layman seems to have been no easy job.
The book has plenty of first-hand accounts of life at Bletchley Park and it seems, even though it was highly specialised and important work, that there was still time for amusement such as amatuer dramatics, music recitals and even a touch of romance between the workers.
It is an enthralling read, giving background to an extremely important, but little written about, theatre of war.
September 12, 2018
The work done at Bletchley Park during the Second World War was unknown to most people for a long time after the war ended, and ever since I first heard of it, I have been fascinated by it.
The breaking of the many different Enigma codes was a quite extraordinary feat by the many brilliant people who worked at Station X (as in the number 10) as it was called. These days the best known of them is Alan Turing, but there were a handful of other equally brilliant codebreakers working there, and a great many others working tirelessly on what must have often been tedious and difficult work.
While the intricacies of the work done there, and the machines created to help with the decoding work, were beyond my ability to understand in detail, the book is very well done in terms of showing how things progressed during the course of the war, and just how vital the codebreaking was in terms of helping to shorten the conflict. It is estimated that without their work, it could have taken up to three more years to reach the end of the war, with a great many more lives lost.
Michael Smith has drawn together a great deal of first hand descriptions of people and events, and also gives a good overview of the main events of the war in Europe and to a lesser extent in Africa. His coverage of the war with Japan is much briefer, although the Japanese codes were also being broken at Bletchley Park.
Recommended to those with an interest in this aspect of the Second World War.
The breaking of the many different Enigma codes was a quite extraordinary feat by the many brilliant people who worked at Station X (as in the number 10) as it was called. These days the best known of them is Alan Turing, but there were a handful of other equally brilliant codebreakers working there, and a great many others working tirelessly on what must have often been tedious and difficult work.
While the intricacies of the work done there, and the machines created to help with the decoding work, were beyond my ability to understand in detail, the book is very well done in terms of showing how things progressed during the course of the war, and just how vital the codebreaking was in terms of helping to shorten the conflict. It is estimated that without their work, it could have taken up to three more years to reach the end of the war, with a great many more lives lost.
Michael Smith has drawn together a great deal of first hand descriptions of people and events, and also gives a good overview of the main events of the war in Europe and to a lesser extent in Africa. His coverage of the war with Japan is much briefer, although the Japanese codes were also being broken at Bletchley Park.
Recommended to those with an interest in this aspect of the Second World War.
February 23, 2020
When this first began, I thought that I was going to struggle as there was much technical information that I didn't understand. I am really glad I persevered as I really became interested especially when many of those who worked the Enigma machine were quoted. Familiar names worked there such as Olivia Newton John's father and Charles Babbage the father of the modern computer. These ladies and gents who worked at Bletchley cracked the most complex codes under the most secret conditions, even unable to speak to the man in the next office as to what they were working upon. Really worthwhile a look.
October 8, 2024
Awesome - my first real introduction to the codebreaking operations during WWII. Thanks Jen for the recommendation!
May 7, 2021
Interesting story and lots of facts, occasionally a bit too dry for my tase, but very imformative.
April 17, 2019
Good technical information - probably more than has been released anywhere - if a little dry. Quite a few direct quotes from people who were there during the war, which sets the scene but also muddles the story. The majority of the book is early war; the last few years of the war go by in a rush.
Events in this book don't follow a linear timeline either. Sometimes that is okay - focusing on one technical achievement and results - but often it is just confusing. The book does have more about double agents and misinformation campaigns than I have seen elsewhere. The idea of tracking misinformation back through layers of Hitler's encoding (and thus revealing keys) is pure genius.
Perhaps the biggest evidence of mediocrity is the over three weeks it took me to read this book. Interesting note - station X is not for "x the unknown", but for the roman numeral X. It was the 10th station for either the British Foreign Office or Special Operations Executive (opinions vary).
Events in this book don't follow a linear timeline either. Sometimes that is okay - focusing on one technical achievement and results - but often it is just confusing. The book does have more about double agents and misinformation campaigns than I have seen elsewhere. The idea of tracking misinformation back through layers of Hitler's encoding (and thus revealing keys) is pure genius.
Perhaps the biggest evidence of mediocrity is the over three weeks it took me to read this book. Interesting note - station X is not for "x the unknown", but for the roman numeral X. It was the 10th station for either the British Foreign Office or Special Operations Executive (opinions vary).
February 25, 2013
I have read a LOT about World War II, and probably watched twice as much in movies and documentaries, but never learned more about the war from a single source than I did in this book. Picked up this book on a visit to Bletchley in 2012. Talk about being happy to be able to finally put a face together with a name! Not for everyone, but if you have read more than three books about the war, then you should read this one next.
August 17, 2015
A pleasant little book offering the highlights of the code-breaking exploits of the United Kingdom during World War II. Provides many previously unpublished photos from the wartime era, along with brief quotes from some of the many people who worked on this top-secret project.
November 6, 2019
This book, although not long, took a long time to read due to the complicated technical details. I like that sort of thing and found myself going back and re-reading bits and pieces to make sure I understood everything they were doing. The people working at Station X were geniuses, that's for sure!!
I really enjoyed this book, but it won't be for the average history buff, due to the complicated technical details.
I really enjoyed this book, but it won't be for the average history buff, due to the complicated technical details.
February 3, 2021
A well presented true story captured here, of what went on at Bletchley park during second world war.Lots of information and facts which gives a real insight into the effort the staff played in breaking the codes.
September 2, 2019
I visited Bletchley Park when some details were still coming to light, the huts were dilapidated but for a few that had been refurbed by which I mean they didn't leak and there was a school table inside with an exhibit. The computer museum was a delightful room of shelves stacked with old computing equipment, cords wrapped round them and no descriptors. It in its self was wonderfully 'Heath Robinson'. It is I fear long overdue a revisit as money has since been pumped in and fame has risen with Turing getting a lot of credit and fame.
That shabby collection of huts was very interesting for someone that had grown up more intellectual than sporting only to find that there might have been a place for him had he been of his grandparents generation. So I have read quite a bit about Bletchley and especially anything that gives Flowers the rightful recognition of creating the first modern computer which this book almost does convincingly. My Polish friend gets upset that the Poles are not known for breaking enigma and really this book does a lot to establish the full extent of Polish assistance which oddly I've never found lacking despite the insistance of my friend it is a forgotten contribution.
The book sets out the stages of growth, some of the operations but best of all tries to capture the personal experiences in a very odd war time place. The incredulity at the positions people found themselves in and the freeing, breakdown of societal class and norms. I have spent a lot of time in Bedford so my favourite parts are hearing of the folk the staff are billeted with. The Christmas pudding tale showing folk there have changed little.
Where the book fell a little short is in some of the explanations of the code breaking, not required for the story but putting mathematical, iterative or procedures into plain English is always fraught. Whilst understanding of the mathematical language isn't universal an appendix with some worked through examples would have helped fill some holes such as with the lorenz cypher. For this reason I'd suggest reading this along with or perhaps shortly after Simon Singh's The Code Book or supplementing those chapters with some Internet videos.
I heartily recommend this book though, an enjoyable read of the story of an incredible place and breakthrough. A place vitally important to a number of operations such as Mincemeat or Double Cross (Ben Macintyre has books on each written in a similar journalistic style). I am going to revisit Bletchley Park, something I've been meaning to do but was perhaps going to put off to allow the next generation to be of age to share with me. Nah, I'll just go twice
That shabby collection of huts was very interesting for someone that had grown up more intellectual than sporting only to find that there might have been a place for him had he been of his grandparents generation. So I have read quite a bit about Bletchley and especially anything that gives Flowers the rightful recognition of creating the first modern computer which this book almost does convincingly. My Polish friend gets upset that the Poles are not known for breaking enigma and really this book does a lot to establish the full extent of Polish assistance which oddly I've never found lacking despite the insistance of my friend it is a forgotten contribution.
The book sets out the stages of growth, some of the operations but best of all tries to capture the personal experiences in a very odd war time place. The incredulity at the positions people found themselves in and the freeing, breakdown of societal class and norms. I have spent a lot of time in Bedford so my favourite parts are hearing of the folk the staff are billeted with. The Christmas pudding tale showing folk there have changed little.
Where the book fell a little short is in some of the explanations of the code breaking, not required for the story but putting mathematical, iterative or procedures into plain English is always fraught. Whilst understanding of the mathematical language isn't universal an appendix with some worked through examples would have helped fill some holes such as with the lorenz cypher. For this reason I'd suggest reading this along with or perhaps shortly after Simon Singh's The Code Book or supplementing those chapters with some Internet videos.
I heartily recommend this book though, an enjoyable read of the story of an incredible place and breakthrough. A place vitally important to a number of operations such as Mincemeat or Double Cross (Ben Macintyre has books on each written in a similar journalistic style). I am going to revisit Bletchley Park, something I've been meaning to do but was perhaps going to put off to allow the next generation to be of age to share with me. Nah, I'll just go twice
June 14, 2014
This was a riveting read about codebreaking at Bletchley Park in the second world war. British Intelligence, known as GC&CS before the war and GCHQ after the war, could crack almost any code and did. Peaking at an employment level of 10,000 in early 1945, Bletchley Park codebreakers decoded, read, and analyzed the most vital and secret transmissions by the Germans. Experts say that their work shortened the war by one to three years.
The Official Secrets Act that all Bletchley Park staff had to sign, prevented this or any book being written until at least 30 years after the war when the secrecy order was finally lifted. In addition to exceptional research, the book also provided personal recollections of numerous people who had actually worked there or been recipients of the intelligence gathered there. The research, the personal insights, and the mainly chronological narrative gave me a very good feel for the intensity of the work, the teamwork, the sense of urgency and pressure that permeated every task, every day, 24 hours a day.
Encryption and code breaking is complicated and technical, and the author presented it in such a way that I could understand why it was so hard and how it could give birth to the first electronic computers. I am a geek and thus loved the technical aspects of the book. Although at times it seemed a little dry and slow-moving, the pace would pick up and the powerful sense of urgency and pressure would return.
The British listened in on everybody's transmissions, including allies, and it was all crucial to the war effort. In a way, this book is very timely, having been published only a couple of years ahead of the revelations about the activities of the NSA, which are really not much different from those of Bletchley Park.
The Official Secrets Act that all Bletchley Park staff had to sign, prevented this or any book being written until at least 30 years after the war when the secrecy order was finally lifted. In addition to exceptional research, the book also provided personal recollections of numerous people who had actually worked there or been recipients of the intelligence gathered there. The research, the personal insights, and the mainly chronological narrative gave me a very good feel for the intensity of the work, the teamwork, the sense of urgency and pressure that permeated every task, every day, 24 hours a day.
Encryption and code breaking is complicated and technical, and the author presented it in such a way that I could understand why it was so hard and how it could give birth to the first electronic computers. I am a geek and thus loved the technical aspects of the book. Although at times it seemed a little dry and slow-moving, the pace would pick up and the powerful sense of urgency and pressure would return.
The British listened in on everybody's transmissions, including allies, and it was all crucial to the war effort. In a way, this book is very timely, having been published only a couple of years ahead of the revelations about the activities of the NSA, which are really not much different from those of Bletchley Park.
January 8, 2020
Author Michael Smith in his Station X: The Codebreakers of Bletchley Park does a splendid job of presenting an overview of the technical work and social climate of the famed crypto site. He seems a master of succinctly explaining technical topics without over-simplifying or going into mind-numbing detail. Coming in at just over 200 pages, his Station X doesn’t have the depth of detail as may be found, for example, in Colossus: Bletchley Park's Greatest Secret, by Paul Gannon, or the more focused memoirs such as The Secret Wireless War by Geoffrey Pidgeon and The Secret Listeners by Sinclair McKay. Bottom line: it’s one of the best short introductions I’ve come across about the wartime work at Bletchley Park.
June 5, 2014
Without saying too much, this book was sometimes a fairly heavy read, but then, the subject is a complicated on, and therefore on occasion, I struggled to understand how certain things worked. It could maybe have been a good idea to include some more examples of how the cyphers worked and how the Germans en-cyphered their messages and as to how they were broken.
However, what a story it was. Breaking the Enigma, first by hand, then by the electronic Bombes then finally with the birth of the first computer.
Bletchley is certainly one of the greatest sites of historical importence in the world because of all that was achieved by those who worked there.
However, what a story it was. Breaking the Enigma, first by hand, then by the electronic Bombes then finally with the birth of the first computer.
Bletchley is certainly one of the greatest sites of historical importence in the world because of all that was achieved by those who worked there.
March 23, 2012
This was the first non-fiction book about Bletchley Park that I read and was the start of my fascination with the Government Code and Cipher School codebreaking operation at Bletchley Park during World War 2. The book accompanied the BBC programme of the same name.
Michael Smith is an excellent author and captured interviews with codebreakers and other BP veterans that are unfortunately no longer with us. It is therefore an important account of first hand interviews that are now preserved for future enjoyment and posterity.
Michael Smith is an excellent author and captured interviews with codebreakers and other BP veterans that are unfortunately no longer with us. It is therefore an important account of first hand interviews that are now preserved for future enjoyment and posterity.
February 15, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. I found it absolutely fascinating to think that all the people who worked there kept it a secret for so long. It also made me realise how lucky I am that they did everything they did under such circumstances. The first hand accounts were wonderful and (even though I would never want to go through six years of war and uncertainty) almost made me want to walk through the corridors and experience it all with them. If you like non-fiction war tales, but without the fighting, then this is the book to start with.
June 14, 2013
I really wanted to like this book. The topic was good. It was just so boring. Every other paragraph is an excerpt from someone so their was no fluid narative at all. Was good for reading 2 pages and going to sleep.
March 3, 2015
Short history of the Codebreakers, with the focus on more than Turning. In other words, if you saw the recent movie, you should read this. Of particular note is the fact that Smith's source include many women.
January 17, 2016
An interesting read but not an easy one. If you're very interested in the military operations side of things, then this book will definitely appeal. Parts of the book are very technical and a more than passing knowledge of significant WWII battles would probably help.
October 26, 2016
This is an excellent study of the evolution of the codebreaking that was carried out at Bletchley Park during the war. The author brings the characters to life and provides just enough technical detail to explain the background without overwhelming the reader. A story of outstanding effort.
March 18, 2022
I absolutely love the history of this time period and Bletchley Park in particular. But this book just couldn't hold my attention. I still need a non-fiction book to be written like a story.
Not a bad book but just not for me.
Not a bad book but just not for me.
July 26, 2022
DNF...way more tech than I need
September 10, 2020
Written by Michael Smith, this book tells the story of the world war 2 code breakers at Bletchley Park who played such a vital role in the Allied Victory. I thought this was an extremely well written and well structured account which was surprisingly easy to read - and despite having visited Bletchley Park and read other books about it, I learnt a lot. From small beginnings with just a handful of staff, by the end of the war over 10,000 people were working there from all walks of life. Despite the long hours and very basic working conditions, it was evident that the people working there had a lot of fun! Concert parties, plays, games of rounders (which flummoxed the Americans stationed there) and many romantic liaisons all meant that BP was an enjoyable experience for many. I liked the annecdotes about the more lighthearted aspects which broke up the factual sections of the book. It was obvious that there were some very clever and very eccentric characters there. However it was the codebreaking that formed the heart of the book. Whilst it didn't go into great mathematical detail, it did give good insight into what they were up against. The book went chronologically through the war with chapters on, among others, the Battle of Britain, North Africa and D Day. In the run up to the Normandy landings, not only did the Allies know where the Germans were but - crucially - they knew that Hitler believed the false rumours of where the landings would take place. This would not have been possible without the code breakers. However it was vital that the Germans did not suspect that their codes had been broken, so elaborate schemes were set up so that it looked as if the Allies had obtained their information from for example recognisance flights or fictitious spies. At the beginning of the war those running BP struggled to get the funding for equipment and staff that they needed - so much so that a group from BP travelled to London to hand a pleading letter to Churchill himself! Luckily from the outset Churchill understood the importance of the intelligence that was coming out of BP (which many of the military leaders did not). There was an excellent summarising final chapter. Michael Smith made the point very strongly that this was a team effort - whilst praising four individual code breakers - Dilly Knox, John Tiltman, Alan Turing and Hugh Alexander - he stressed that without all the people in the background, many of them women, none of this outstanding work would have been possible. It is an amazing story. All those people working together for a common cause yet not being able to discuss it with anyone until years later. I think anyone associated with BP should feel very proud. By shortening the conflict many lives were saved.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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