Codebreakers: The Inside Story of Bletchley Park

Be the first to write a review

Overview


Familiar to anyone versed in the history of World War II or interested in the study of modern intelligence work, Bletchley Park was arguably the most successful intelligence operation in world history, the top secret workplace of the remarkable people who cracked Germany's vaunted Enigma Code. Almost to the end of the war, the Germans had firm faith in the Enigma ciphering machine, but in fact the codebreakers were deciphering nearly 4,000 German transmissions daily by 1942, reaping a wealth of information on ...
See more details below
Paperback (Reissue)
$13.56
BN.com price
(Save 32%)$19.95 List Price
Pick Up In Store

Pick Up In Store

Reserve and pick up in 60 minutes at your local store

Other sellers (Paperback)
  • All (24) from $5.00   
  • New (9) from $10.06   
  • Used (15) from $5.00   
Sending request ...

More About This Book

Overview


Familiar to anyone versed in the history of World War II or interested in the study of modern intelligence work, Bletchley Park was arguably the most successful intelligence operation in world history, the top secret workplace of the remarkable people who cracked Germany's vaunted Enigma Code. Almost to the end of the war, the Germans had firm faith in the Enigma ciphering machine, but in fact the codebreakers were deciphering nearly 4,000 German transmissions daily by 1942, reaping a wealth of information on such important matters as the effort to resupply Rommel's army in North Africa and the effect of Allied attempts to mislead the Germans about the location of D-Day landings. Indeed, Winston Churchill hailed the work of Bletchley Park as the "secret weapon" that won the war.
Only now, nearly half a century since the end of the Second World War, have any of the men and women in this group come forward to tell this remarkable story in their own words--a story that an oath of secrecy long prevented them from revealing. In Codebreakers, F.H. Hinsley and Alan Stripp have gathered together twenty-seven first-hand accounts of one of the most amazing feats in intelligence history. These engaging memoirs, each written by a different member of the codebreakers team, recount the long hours working in total secrecy and the feelings of camaraderie, tension, excitement, and frustration as these men and women, both British and American, did some of the most important work of the war. These talented people share not only their technical knowledge of cryptography and military logistics, but also poignant personal recollections as well. Walter Eytan, one of a handful of Jews at Betchley Park, recalls intercepting a message from a German vessel which reported that it carried Jews "en route for Piraeus zur Endlosung (for the final solution)." Eytan writes "I had never heard this expression before, but instinctively, I knew what it must mean, and I have never forgotten that moment." Vivienne Alford tells of her chilling memory of hearing that the atomic bomb had been dropped on Hiroshima, and the stillness that came over her and her co-workers in Naval Section VI. And William Millward confides that he is still haunted by the work he did in Hut 3 nearly fifty years ago. "I sometimes wonder, especially during the night, how many sailors I drowned."
Few readers will finish this book without feeling that the codebreakers were essential to the outcome of the war--and thereby of major importance in helping to shape the world we live in today.
Read More Show Less

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"A fascinating and unique book. For the first time--and in their own words--the men and women of Bletchley Park describe in detail how they broke the most secret codes of Germany and Japan. Complex, evocative and engrossing, it is the story of an unprecedented intellectual achievement which not only shortened the war and saved millions of lives but also helped forge the modern age. Anyone who is interested in military or scientific history will want to read it."--Robert Harris

Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780192801326
  • Publisher: Oxford University Press
  • Publication date: 8/9/2001
  • Edition description: Reissue
  • Pages: 360
  • Sales rank: 192,815
  • Product dimensions: 7.50 (w) x 4.90 (h) x 0.90 (d)

Meet the Author

F.H. Hinsley was formerly Master of St John's College and Professor of the History of International Relations at the University of Cambridge. He is the author of the four-volume history British Intelligence in the Second World War.
Alan Stripp is Director of Cambridge University Summer Schools on British Secret Services.

Read More Show Less

Table of Contents

Introduction. The Influence of Ultra in the Second World War F.H. Hinsley
Part One. The Production of Ultra Intelligence
1. Life in and out of Hut 3, William Millward
2. The Duty Officer, Hut 3, Ralph Bennett
3. A naval officer in Hut 3, Edward Thomas
4. The Z Watch in Hut 4, Part I, Alex Dakin
5. The Z Watch in Hut 4, Part 2, Walter Eytan
6. Italian naval decrypts, Patrick Wilkinson
7. Naval Section VI, Vivienne Alford
8. Anglo-American signals intelligence co-operation, Telford Taylor
9. An American at Bletchley Park, Robert M. Slusser
10. Bletchley Park, the Admiralty, and naval Enigma, F.H. Hinsley
Part Two. Enigma
11 11. The Enigma Machine, Alan Stripp
12. Hut 6: Early Days, Stuart Milner-Barry
13. Hut 6: 1941-1945, Derek Taunt
14. Hut 8 and naval Enigma, Part 1, Joan Murray
15. Hut 8 and naval Enigma, Part 2, Rolf Noskwith
16. The Abwehr Enigma, Peter Twinn
17. The bombes, Diana Payne
Part Three. Fish
18. An Introduction to Fish, F.H. Hinsley
19. Enigma and Fish, Jack Good
20. The Tunny Machine, Ken Halton
21. Operation Tunny
Part Four. Field ciphers and tactical codes
22. Recollections of Bletchley Park, France, and Cairo, Henry Dryden
23. Army Ultra's Poor Relations, Noel Currer-Briggs
24. Navy Ultra Poor Relations, Christopher Morris
25. Tactical signals of the German Airforce, Peter Gray Lucas
Part Five. Japanese codes
26. Japanese naval codes, Michael Loewe
27. Bedford-Bletchley-Kilindini-Colombo, Hugh Denham
28. Japanese military codes, Maurice Wiles
29. Japanese Army Air Force codes at Bletchley Park and Delhi, Alan Stripp
30. Recollections of temps perdu at Bletchley Park, Carmen Blacker
Appendix. How the Bletchly Park buildings took shape Bob Watson

Read More Show Less

Customer Reviews

Be the first to write a review
( 0 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(0)

4 Star

(0)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

Review Guidelines
Add Recommendations
Your Name: Create a Pen Name or

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identity on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

 
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously
Sort by: Showing 1 Customer Review

  • Posted August 8, 2009

    Very enlightening on Code breaking

    Very enlightening on Code breaking about WWII for the individuals at Bletchley Park in England. A must read for the WWII historian.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Sort by: Showing 1 Customer Review
If you find inappropriate content, please report it to Barnes & Noble
Why is this product inappropriate?
Comments (optional)