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-   -   SS Enigma? (http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=51039)

John Beaman 24th April 2018 16:46

SS Enigma?
 
Did the Waffen SS or General SS units use Enigma machines for communications?

Orwell1984 24th April 2018 18:29

Re: SS Enigma?
 
Yes they did.
For example here’s a paper talking about decoding SS enigma messages:
http://cryptocellar.org/pubs/bgac.pdf

John Beaman 25th April 2018 03:54

Re: SS Enigma?
 
Thanks so much Orwell!! Great stuff.

Nick Beale 25th April 2018 09:47

Re: SS Enigma?
 
The German intelligence services used it too, as did the Reichsbahn apparently.

Bruce Dennis 25th April 2018 11:53

Re: SS Enigma?
 
Hello John,
As you have heard, yes they did. Like all German users they had different models at different times, so different approaches were taken by those on the Allied side working to read it.
Was it a general question or did you have a particular time and place in mind?

Bruce

edwest2 26th April 2018 02:35

Re: SS Enigma?
 
Yes, the Reichsban did as well.



Ed

Nick Beale 26th April 2018 14:30

Re: SS Enigma?
 
Just to add that Waffen-SS material is mixed in amongst the Army and Luftwaffe decrypts whereas the intelligence services' traffic is in separate file series (e.g. HW 16).

Boomerang 3rd February 2019 14:15

Re: SS Enigma?
 
John:

I'm not sure if this is still a 'live' thread, or if you already have everything you need.

In any case, here is a document that provides some further information about the specifics of SS Enigma:

https://www.nsa.gov/Portals/70/docum..._holocaust.pdf

As mentioned earlier, the Reichsbahn also used Enigma machines. There are details near the bottom of this webpage:

http://chris-intel-corner.blogspot.c...h?q=Reichsbahn

The above blog is actually a fantastic resource about WW 2 codes and code breaking.

It's interesting that if used absolutely correctly, Enigma was unbreakable (at the time). The correctly used Gestapo Enigma was never broken. Apparently the Luftwaffe was particularly lax, making the code breakers job much easier than it could/should have been.

Don W

edwest2 3rd February 2019 22:02

Re: SS Enigma?
 
Thank you, Don W. It is very odd that NSA should release certain documents in 2009 and 2010.


The Abwehr also had their own Enigma. For those who can read German:


https://www.amazon.com/Chiffriermasc.../dp/3899755480


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