Enigma U-Boats: Breaking the Code

by Jak P. Mallmann-Showell

After World War I, the German admirals were shocked to discover that the Royal Navy had had an immense advantage--they had penetrated the secret German radio codes. Confronted with this fact, the Germans determined that any future codes would need to be so complex that breaking them would, theoretically, be impossible. The result was the famous Enigma machine, whose settings were altered so frequently and variables so great that the Germans believed capture of a machine by the enemy would not compromise Enigma for long. But the British proved them wrong. They managed to obtain the machine and determine the method of setting the code, giving the Allies a critical tactical advantage. As the author points out, this intelligence triumph was particularly important during the Battle of the Atlantic, when Hitler's U-boat wolf-packs were wreaking havoc on the convoy lifelines to the British Isles. Without the decoded Enigma messages, the Allies' narrow victory would likely have turned to defeat. This skillful analysis of Enigma's development and its role during U-boat operations includes details of Allied boardings of U-boats from which Enigma machines could have been captured. It is one of the greatest espionage stories in the history of naval warfare.

Genres: History

192 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2000

Reviews

[Mike White · Rating 4 out of 5]

“This chapter looks at other occasions when U-boasts were nearly captured and during which it is just possible that secret materials may have been recovered by the Allied forces involved.”
Factual account of capture – and possible capture – of code and cipher materials, including Enigma machines, from U-boats during WWII.
Each event is described, identifying the ships, aircraft and people involved. There’s a brief chapter entitled Bletchley Park and the British Side, an appendix with tables of data, a bibliography and index.
The descriptions of captures were understandably repetitive, but the book is informative on an aspect of the conflict I’d not considered before. The value of High Frequency Direction Finding (Huff-Duff) in tracing U-boats and determining their intentions has been overshadowed by the revelations of the value of the deciphering work done at Bletchley. A good read for those interested in the subject.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was more about U-boats than Enigma. Makes a case for downplaying the work of the Bletchley Park code breakers. Not saying I agree, but interesting nonetheless.

This is an early English edition of this title. It might be interesting to read more recent editions to see how the authors research results evolved the story.

Who knew there is a sequoia tree in front of the main house at Bletchley Park?!

[Mark B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fewer details about the Enigma machines than I was hoping for, but plenty about U-boats.

[Marcin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Książka o wątpliwej wartości, przeznaczona dla miłośników marynistyki i łodziologii podwodnej. Połowę książki stanowią opisy abordaży U-Botów. Autor ma znikome pojęcie o polskim wkładzie w złamanie szyfru Enigmy, przy jednoczesnym upartym twierdzeniu, że incydend w radiostacji w Gliwicach został przeprowadzony przez Wojsko Polskie

[Alan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting read, well written & by an acknowledged expert. If you have read our sides story. This makes a good German perspective of the enigma situation.