Page 35 - All About History - Issue 53-17

Spies That Won WWII

MARIAN

REJEWSKI

The Polish mathematician who
reconstructed the Enigma cipher machine

Significant early success in solving Weeks before the German
the cryptologic riddle of the invasion of Poland that started World
German Enigma cipher machine War II, the Polish mathematicians SCHOOL FOR
was accomplished by a trio of Polish met at Pyry, south of Warsaw,
mathematicians in the 1930s. Marian with British and French intelligence SCOUNDRALS
Rejewski, Henryk Zygalski, and officers, revealing their successes.
Jerzy Różycki collaborated in the For British Intelligence, the progress A step-by-step guide to the training of
effort, and Rejewski actually made of the Poles offered a great leap
an Enigma machine in 1932 without forward, allowing them to begin Special Operations Executive hopefuls
previously having seen one. reading decrypted Enigma messages,
Rejewski was born in 1905 in dubbed Ultra, within months. 1. INTRODUCTORY COURSE
Bromberg, at that time part of The Poles continued working in Those thought suitable for a role in the SOE were sent first on a two- or
the German Empire. He attended France until late 1942. Rejewski and three-week course, where they would engage in physical fitness exercises,
Poznan University during the 1920s, Zygalski escaped to England the basic map reading and weapons work, though the recruits were not told
and while Polish cryptanalysts had following summer and were enlisted that they were testing for the SOE. There was also said to be a well-stocked
worked on Enigma for a time, their in the Polish Army, cracking other bar to see how potential agents might behave when alcohol was liberally
success had been limited. In the German codes. poured.
autumn of 1932, the task was handed Meanwhile, British and American
to Rejewski. cryptanalysts had taken the lead 2. GROUP A TRAINING
Rejewski had only a general in the decryption of Enigma Those that passed the initial course were sent for a three- or four-week
understanding of how the machine’s transmissions. The Poles, who had course in paramilitary techniques up in Scotland, most famously at Arisaig.
system of rotors functioned and provided vital assistance, were Here they learned about small arms, as well taking lessons in unarmed
received some assistance from excluded from further participation. combat (developed by former Shanghai police officers Sykes and Fairbairn),
sabotage and demolition, intensive map reading and basic infantry tactical
French sources. Within just a matter Their role remained obscure for training.
of days, he managed to untangle the some time. Rejewski died in 1980,
labyrinth of internal wiring that made aged 78. Twenty years later, he was 3. GROUP B TRAINING
the Enigma a revolutionary encoding awarded the Grand Cross of the It was likely that the first two courses might wheedle out around 60 per
machine with millions of possible Order of Polonia Restituta, Poland’s cent of candidates, the remainder passing on to Group B training in the
letter combinations. The Poles highest civilian decoration. country houses around Beaulieu and the New Forest. Here they learned
subsequently went on to pioneer defensive lessons — about enemy police services and how to respond to
invaluable techniques for cracking their lines of questioning. They were also taught how to live their cover
Enigma decryptions. with conviction.
4. GROUP B TESTING
The Poles played During the Group B work, recruits were also given lessons in intelligence
a vital role in
decoding Enigma gathering and reporting their findings back to England via elementary
coding before they took a practical passing-out test that lasted several days.
Recruits were sent off in small groups with a specific mission — sabotage,
theft of a Sten gun etc — which might also require them picking up an
accomplice along the way.
5. PARACHUTE TRAINING
Once recruits graduated from Beaulieu they were sent for more technical
training, including parachuting for those to be dropped overseas. This
was taught from a merchant’s house near Manchester. Drops were made
into the grounds at Tatton Park from Whitley aircraft. The drop suits
were developed with pockets for a spade, so the agents could bury the
parachute on landing.
6. SPECIALIST TRAINING
“REJEWSKI MADE AN There were a number of specialist courses for graduates, like the wireless
school at Thame Park. There were courses in safe-breaking and clandestine
ENIGMA MACHINE” printing as well as advanced sabotage techniques. Of those who failed the
early courses, meanwhile, many were sent to the ‘cooler’ at Inverlair, where
they were encouraged to forget the little they had learned about secret
operations.
35