UNKNOWN GERMAN WORLD WAR II CIPHER DEVICE

Cryptologia, Apr 2004 by Kruh, Louis

ABSTRACT: Seeeking help from readers to identify an unknown World War II German cipher device captured at the end of the war. The device is reminiscent of a large Jefferson-Bazeries cylinder.

KEYWORDS: Improved M-94, cylindrical cipher device, World War II, unknown device, disks, Chiffriermaschinen Gesellschaft, Heimsoeth & Rincke.

About ten years ago, shortly after the National Security Agency's National Cryptologic Museum opened its doors to the public, I made my first visit to see its extraordinary collection. Viewing exhibits such as the Lorenz Schlusselzusatz, Siemens Geheimschreiber T 52C, the Japanese Jade machine and many others known only from photographs was an exciting experience.

Near the end of my visit I met with Jerry Coates, museum curator, who I had corresponded with previously. He asked if I could identify an unknown cipher device that was part of the museum's collection. It had been manufactured by Chiffriermaschinen Gesellschaft, Heimsoeth & Rincke, 35 Ludendorffstrasse 5, GERMANY, the same company that manufactured the Enigma cipher machine. The device had been captured at the end of World War II.

At first glance it looks like an elongated, more complicated version of the old U.S. Army M-94 cylindrical cipher device. It was unfamiliar to me and I offered to send a photograph of the device to colleagues in Europe who were familiar with German military cryptography equipment. Mr. Coates agreed and letters were sent in February and March 1994. Our letter pointed out that the device has rotating disks with mixed alphabets along their edges. Aside from the four disks at the left end, which may have a special function, there are 59 disks in three groups of 20, 20 and 19 disks each.

About a dozen letters were sent and some recipients suggested other knowledgeable individuals or forwarded letters to colleagues. Unfortunately, no one reported ever seeing this cipher device. A German war veteran thought it was "a kind of improved M-94" and suggested "The four disks on the left are used for keying." He also pointed out that "One disk holds only the digits 0, 1, and 2 and may denote one of the three groups of disks."

Professor F. L. Bauer, author of Decrypted Secrets: Methods and Maxims of Cryptology [1], called "The best book on cryptology today" by David Kahn, thought it was "most remarkable" that the company who manufactured the Enigma also produced other crypto equipment. "Without a doubt," he wrote on March 13, 1994, "it is a Jefferson-Bazeries cylinder for polyalphabetic encipherment with independent mixed alphabets." Bauer doubts the device was in wide use, "otherwise it would not have taken so long to find a piece." he also suggests it may be a "specimen copy." Further, he reports it is not mentioned in any literature on German crypto machines available to him. Additionally, his contacts at the OKW Chi and from the AA Sonderdienst assure him that it was not in use in either the Armed Forces or the Diplomatic Service. "There remains (unlikely) RLM Forschungsant, RSHA, Gestapo (Secret Police) and SD. Cryptographically mediocre institutions like Parteikanzlei (Nazi Party organizations), Reichskanzlei (Civil Administration), Railroad, Post Office which were denied unrestricted use of the Enigma and might have looked for other devices."

After responding to all correspondence, my mystery device file remained dormant and almost forgotten until October 2003 when I received my copy of Studies in Intelligence. This issue contained an excellent article, "The Story of the National Cryptologic Museum," by current Curator Jack E. Ingram. The article's first photograph featured former Curator Jerry Coates, which reminded me of the unknown cylindrical crypto item. It also stimulated another idea and I immediately sent a note to Jack Ingram suggesting I use the photograph of the device on the cover of Cryptologia, in another effort to unveil its mystery. He graciously agreed and this synopsis of our earlier effort could be a final attempt to discover its secret. I would appreciate hearing from anyone with information on this intriguing World War II cipher device.

REFERENCES

1. Bauer, F. L. 1997. Decrypted Secrets: Methods and Maxims of Cryptology. New York: Springer.

Louis Kruh

ADDRESS: 17 Alfred Road West, Merrick NY 11566 USA. louk17@aoptonline.net

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Louis Kruh is an editor of Cryptologia and he has a web site, www.loukruh.com for his extraordinary collection of cryptologic memorabilia