HUT 3

Cryptologia, Jan 2004 by Kruh, Louis

HUT 3 Jackson, John, Ed. The secret War of Hut 3: The First Story of How Intelligence from Enigma Signals Decoded at Bletchley Park Was Used During World War II. The Military Press, 1 Gallagher Close, Milton Keynes MK8 01Q UK. 2002. 115 pp. 8 1/2'' × 11 3/4''. Hardback 25.00/839.30; Paperback £15.00/$23.60.0 pp. $24.95.

This volume is the first in a new series of publications about Ultra, the high grade intelligence decrypted from the German Enigma coding machine by Bletchley Park during World War II. It was here that German, Italian and Japanese radio signals were sent to be de-cyphered and then distributed to Allied leaders and field commanders. The series represents a unique body of knowledge about the best-kept secret of the War.

The Foreword in this first volume is by Peter Calvocoressi, Head of Air sec tion at Bletchley Park during the War. At the end of World War II, those who had actually worked in the Hut wrote a history of the activities of Hut 3. The result was so sensitive that it was immediately given the highest security classification: Top secret - Ultra. Now declassified and in the Public Record Office, this monograph is based on that publication.

Hut 3 was responsible for the processing of signals once the code in which they had been transmitted had been broken. They translated and annotated them and reported the contents to Government departments and commanders in the field. Churchill received the most important decrypts direct. Hut 3, at its peak of activity, had some 580 men and women working on it, which included 21 Americans. Hut 3 developed into an intelligence organization the like of which had never been seen before. Their index system, the technical expertise and research facilities were unique. This monograph explains how Hut 3 handled the signals they received, and how their processing enhanced the value of the signals.

In theory, Enigma was unbreakable and in practice it was broken because the Germans were over confident and careless. The first ciphers broken were almost entirely German Air Force (GAF) and it was an extraordinary achievement even though the Germans did not strictly observe their own regulations for its use. The invasion of Norway forced Hut 3 into a quick reform of its organization and it was remarkable that changes introduced in April 1940 at such short notice stayed in place till the end of the war.

At the outset, Jackson also provides an Organization of Huts by section with functions and approximate number of staff in each. Some of his 14-chapters are: Duty Officers, Signal section, Special Liaison Units, The German Book Room, Liaison section, General Intelligence, Hitler's secret Weapons, and Enter the Americans, which describes the Americans at Bletchley Park. Major William (Bill) Bundy was operations officer of the 6813th Signal security Detachment as the American unit was officially designated. (His article on the Bletchley experience, "Some of my Wartime Experiences", which is highly recommended, appeared in Cryptologia, Vol. XI, Number 2, April 1987, pp. 65-76).

This is an excellent book that belongs in your personal library. It is also a great gift idea.