..... REF ID:A58170 

/ 'f0P SB9RB'P 

T 3297. 

~our Honor's asaert10J:1. that almost all cipher telegrams 

can be deciphered is unten&.ble. !t the matter vere so eaa7, 

the German radio sections vould probably not tail to deciph.er the Rusa1an. English and French radiograms vh1ch th97 intercept. To my knowledge the German radio sections have onJ.7 succeeded 

in ~art1ally deciphering the Italian radiograms; this mar be 

e.xpla1Ded by the tact that the;r had matel'ial supplied by the 

Auatrian-HWlg&l'ian &1'1111' to serve aa basis. Without such an 

aid, the decipherment ot uneystematie ciphers 1a out or the '1 .• question. That the Genel'al Starr 1a at present not 1n a 

poaition to decipher Ruaeian diplomatic cipher despatches, 1a 

best sbovn b7 the tact that Major Nicolai recentl7 requested ' that we turn over our Russian cipher material and the eommunicatione orr.1cer in the General Starr or the Field Art117 recentl7 

repeated tbia request. 

In the case ot cipbera of the. Foreign Ott1ce a d1at1nct1on 

must be ntade between antiquated. and new c1pbera. Ot the former 

there are uauall7 one or tvo copies in each m1aa1on ror the 

transm1sa1on ot unimportant.r~porta or identical meeaages, or - (t 

since these are alreadJ' ccmprom1aed - tor sending.out m1alead.1ng \· , I information. In radio conanun1cat1on vith Spain, ror 1natance, 

1, ·v· I several bogue telegrams have b~en sent 1n a cipher known to 

'· · l our enemies. Th8 t the decipherment ot such radiogl'ame cauaea 

no 41f't1cult7 1s cleu. It is di:l"terent v1th tel:egrama enciph- ered in the unsystematic secret ciphei-a ot the 1Pore1gn Ottieep ' eapeeiall.7 vhen uaed with conatantl7 changing keya. Decipher-. 

ment of th$se telegrams is aimpl7 impossible even for the most cleve~ epec1al1sts. It can onl7 reault 1£ the eht1re cil>ber 

1a betra7ed or essential parts and ke;rs come to the knowledge 

ot a foreign govel'Dlllent. Ot course, there 1a no abaolute 

security against betrayal and the onl7 a1d ia the frequent change ot cipher and ot ke7s, which 1a abundantly provided tor 

het-e. 

During the var the Foreign orr1ce ha• had radio COllDWl1eat1on chiefly with the embasaiea 1n Madrid and Washington and 

with the mission 1n Persia. T~e emba••1 in Madrid baa 1nclependentl;r and·conatantl7 safeguarded 1ta c1J>hera b7 the mo1~ 

intricate syetems. However. since the cipher itself eould 

not be changed during the var, it 1• conceivable, though highly improbable, that radiograms to Madrid co"1ld 1n part be 

deciphe?"ed, alvaya assuming that the literal ke7 emplo7e4 was 

betrayed. 

Por Persia too a secret ke7 1a emplo7ed tor important telegrams. The radiograms to Waabington could be read by ov e~em1ea aince the7 had to be enciphered vlth a cipher vb1Ch 

ia in the hands ot the American censors in Tuckerton and 

E1lvese. Perbapa the obaervat1ons or the General Start are 

baaed in the main on th~•e telegrams. It vould interest me, 

however, to be informed or these obaervat1ona 1n detail. 

In.m1 conversation with Major Bicolai he requested the 

B$nd1ng or a representative or the Pore1gn Ott1ce to a conterence 

which should discuss an excban,ge ot 1n1"ormat1on pegarding cipher material or hoatile atatea nov in the hand.a or the 

Admiralt7 Starr, General Statt and Foreign Ot:l"ice. In th1a way . 

T e P SBSRB! 

Declassified and approved for release by NSA on 02-12-2014 pursuant to E. 0. 1352B 
'• REF ID:A58170 

'f e P SECftE'I' 

the decipherment of foreign enciphered correspondence a:tv:>uld 

be 1"Ul'thered so tar as possible and at the same time our ovn 

cipher 117atem be benetitted. The representative or this ott1ce~d1d not give any assurance regarding the tUl'ning over 

ot 1.1aed German ciphers of' the Pore1gn Of'f'1ce tor the PUl'POBe i ~ ... r · 

mentioned bJ Your Honor and,, theref'ore, could_ not take baok - . t ~ , 

that asau~ance. Instead,, the Communication• Otficer~ Capt. . .. ! 

Gral)au, vaa informed that it would be well to turn over to the 

Foreign Otf'1ce the intercepted radiogl'ams between St. Petersburg and Bueaian diplomatic missions abroad, since the Cipher Burt,au - on the be.sis or the older Russian cipher material at 

1te disposal and its long experience doc1pher1ng Ruaa1an cipher telegrams - might be 1n a position to decipher them,, whereas 

th1.a waa a1mplJ' 1mposa1ble ror the Gene:ral Starr. Your Honor 

will bring up this suggestion moat emphaticall7 v1th the 

appropriate ottice. 

Our representative expressed himself' in general tel'llla 

at the above mentioned conf'erence respecting the cipher a7stems 

uaed 1n the Foreign Of"tice and the measures taken 1"or thair 

aecurit7. Th& Fo:re1gn Of"f'ice itself' baa the utmoat 1nt~ .. •est 

in safeguarding its telegraphic traff'1c. 

I will 11a1 f'urther that in the paat 7ear vord came btom 

Holland - word vh1Ch has been repeated several t1mea - that 

all Geman cipher telegrams were being read b7 eapeciall7 clever enem7 agents. Thereupon. 12 sample postal ciphers 

were given the representative auppl71ng the 1nf'ormat1on. these 

be was supposed to be able to get into the hande ot the agents and also to learn what results the7 had with deoiphel'.lllent. To date no report on this matter has been received. '.rhia ahovs 

the value 01" such :reports. 

I leave it to Your Honor to uae the rorego1ng in r~iendl~ 

taal:L1on in the propel' qual'tel'. I have not the •11.ghteat doubt o~ the lo7alt7 ot the Artm7 Supreme Command in the 

question. ~~ ~'r \..cw. ~ 

~ '-#!r"'".: J_ . ,, j :Z&,.\A.1.~_ ............... ..___1 

~ ~~~~ .. ~ ,,~ 

\,..cUS-.- ~- ~- ~~ · F• "'-""'(- °t~"&i D t 

\iep2•eaentat1ve of the .Po!'eign 01":t1cel \!f_ Grand Bead.quarters ltr. 158~ Secre~.j '-::. r-1 6 " ·\. ~ i-i 

Oenel'al Headquarters,, 2,.III.17. 

I br1ng to·YoUl' Honor's.attention the foregoing letter 

or the SocretlU'J' ot State or the Pore1gn O:tr1ce to me. Please 

treat aa con.f'idential. 

(Signed) Bs.ron V. Le:raner 
REF ID:A58170 

'f a P SB0BB'f 

;Ch1et ot the AdmiraltJ Start of the Navy 

: II Berlin, 14 April 1917. 

Very Secret. 

Persuant to my letter D·25B>1 II ot 22 March I have had the 

codes ot the Poreign O:t'f1ce 1'r. 200, 604, 2505,and l}O' which 

vere tUl'lled over to the Nav7 aubjeoted to a brief examination. 

The result of this ex81111nat1on which 1• enclose4, has con• 

vinced me that these cod.ea are not suitable to gctar.antee adequate securit~ over any considerable period ot t111le. I have 

theretol'e ordered their withdrawal trom all Baval Otticea 

(attaehes)at preaent supplied the~ev1th. 

Signed Signature _·i·> ·. · ··J;. ·. F-· 

. To Imperial Pr1V7 Counsellor, 5ecret&?7 or State o:t' the , __ Pore1gn Otf'1ce, Mr. Z1mmemann, Excellenc;r, Berlin. 

-\ \ :t--.r.. .\1. 

Chief" or the Acba1ralt7.Statt Berlin, l' .April 1917. 

D 2908 II. 

or the NaVT 

'--· 

Veey Secret. 

To the Ro~al Pield ~shall General, Ch1et ot the Oener~l 

s t·att' ot the Fie 14 Arm7, Mr. von Beneckendort't and von 

;\:·· Hindenburg. E.xcellenc7,, Grand Headquai-ters. •,) 

-

• 

Enclosed I send Your Xxcellenc7 tor 70\ll' 1ntormat1on a 

cop,- or a letter to the Secret8.17' ot Stat,. o:f' t))e Foreign Otf'1Ce. 

Even though 1t 11 impossible to judge here vhether the 

othel' secret means or communication used b7 the Poreign Otf'1oe 

&rf'ord sreatel' aecur1t7, the reault• or the 1nveat1gat1on 

ot tour codes turned over to the K&VJ' during the course ot 

the var ror 1ta use - wbtch therefore were e~1dentl7 regarded b7 the Foreign Office as auf'f1c1entl:r secure - 118.ke tt 

illlpel'ative to use caution in transmitting secret material 

through the med1at1on ot the Pore1gn Ott1ce. 

(Signed) vo~ Boltaendortf' 

~" Chief ot the General Stat't or the 

Pield kl!ltq 

\I 0 Nr. 3119 Secret \ 

' . 

Onl7 b7_0N"1cel'. 

Ch-and Headquarters ' 

7 • ..,. 1917. 

. .. •. . ' '· ' . . . . \ . 

Tblaough the letter or the Ch1et ot the Admiralt7 Starr 

D 2908 II or 14 IV it baa come to '111.J" attention that 1nd1v14ual 

secret codes ot the Foreign Ottice are not abaolut•17 aecure. 

Shou.14 th1• be true, I request. that a au1table dratt·or 

a letter to the Foreign Ot1"1ce be prepared tol' me. 

l •nclose the material at hand ror 7our oont1dent1al uae. 

l 

5 enclosures 

·----- -- ~-- -- -- -· - .! .• .. -- m Q p 9 lil 

BJ.Order 

Ludendortt 

n'AR'P,., 

~ 

,. 
'±1 0 p 

Ohler or F1eld Telegrap:tq 

REF ID:A58170 

S E 0 R E 'f 

Grand Beadq'U&l'ters. Received: 7 Ma7 1917. 

Section IV Br. 4glJ14 Secret. 

Sent 10 May 1917 vith a dl-att. ----------... 

) 

\

-Oh1et ot General llj~ uot ·t'h~ 'Pi~ld A:na7 10 Ma7 1917 

Chief ot Field TelegraphJ' 

: Section IV ?flt. lJ9414 Secret ~ 

To I C Kr. 3119 Secret or 7 V 17 

Re: Secur1t7 or the Codes ot the Foreign Office. 

i . ' . To Chief ot the General Statt ot the Field Al.-llq'. 

I agree with the vie~ ot the Chiet ot the Admiralty &tart ot 

the Nav7. The l'equeated dratt ot a lettei- to the Poreign · ortice 1• enclosed. 

l enclosure. 

On behalf ot the Ch1~t ot Field Telegrapb:J 

(Signed) von Maaaov. 

Through a letter or the A4m1ralt7 Statr ot the B&VJ' I am 

made acquainted v1th the tact that foUl" a;ratems or aecret 

ccmmun1oat1on auppl1ed b7 the Foreign Ottice during tbe course 

of' the var have not proven adequately secure. The Admiralt7 

&torr :t'~t! f°O'Jnd itself' :f"o:reed to order the v1thm.wal of theau~ 

codes from all Naval ort1ces (attaches) equipped therewith. 

The tact that these codes ~ere t"urn1ahed to the B&VJ' tor 

use dUl'1ng the var leada to the conclualon that the codea ot t~~ ~c=cign Office are CQmpo3ed on the aam.e prin<;~plea and 

therefore do not arrol'd adequate aecur1'tJ'. 

In viev of' the extraordina?-7 importance which the 

secur1t7 ot the codes ot the Po:z-e1gn Office has tor the collective 

interests or the nation, I can not f~11 to auggeat once aga1n 

to lour B.xcellenc7 subjecting ~he code• uaed b7 the Poreign Office to an examination b7 experts vho had no 'J)&rt in the 

production or these codes.. · 

The art of decipherment haa developed into a.science 

during the var. 

Under the Chief of Field TelegraJ>b7 there.is an office 

vhich 1a excluaively occupied with the decipherment of foreign a1etema and which has succeeded 1n breaking nearl7 all field 

and naval systems now 1n uae a• well aa aeveral diplomatic s7atema. Even una7atemat1c ciphers vith changing reciphel'llent have been aolved-1>7 tb1a ottice without &Jl7 aid fl'Cll otheiaoureea. · 

' ~ p~ppp~e therefore that YoUJW Bxcellen07 ut1l1&e tbe rich 

'!' 0 , I B g R B 'I' 

r ·' ! 

. ,. . .. · r . ~ ~; . , f • J. t ... 1 .~ ~ ~ L ·~ , ,. t.f . ' 
REF ID:A58170 

'f e P SR6RET 

experience ot this oftice and hav• tlle COdea in '-tUeStton 

checked b7 an ott1cer ot this ott1ce. Details· could be arranged 

vith the Chief of Field Telegraph.J'. 

' . 

· Chief of the Admiral tJ" Start Berlin, 28 VII 1917 

or the Nav;r 

Veey Secret. 

In connection with D 2980 II or l' April (I beg to 1n1"orm 70~) that tor special reaaoas the telegraphic commun1cat1one 

ot the Foreign Ottice v1th the Imperial Fabass7 1n Madrid haa 

been subjected to a study ot its aecurit;r. Thia 1nveet1s~t1on 

ha~ conf'irmed the previous opinion respecting the codes cona truc ted on the model of 2505, inasmuch aa all enciphered 

telegrams could be dec1phe:Ped 1n 14 days. With respect to the 

so-called ~otterie Cipher emplo7ed tor more important matters, 

1nvest1gatJ.on ahoved that this did indeed involve greater difficulty 1n solutien but· nevertheless vould onl7 assure 

adequate security 1t certain detects were el1m1nated and 11" 

a number ot codes were available tor use at the same tiDle. 

(Signed) von Holtzend.orrr 

To the Royal Prussian Field Marshal Gene~al. 

Oh1ef of the General Staff ot the P1eld A.raly' 

Mr. von Beneckendortt and Hindenburg, Excellenc7, 

Grand Headquarters. 

R. Chiet ot Oommun1cat1ona 

w1th requeet t~r opinion. bJ" order 

B. L. 

,,,,..,, 

. Chief ot the Commun1cat1ona Service Grand Beadquartera 1 VIII 17. 

Section IV t Br. 7~28JI. Secret 

I agffe with the viev ot the Admiralt1 8tatt. Here too 

traffic or the Foreign Office with Madrid 1a intercepted and 

worked on. One or the codes used between the "M1n1.ater ot 

Pore1gn Atfaira" Berlin and Madrid was solved. atter i' d.a.7B. 

The Chief or the Communications Service made personal report 

ot this to the Quartermaster General. Telegrams tl'om tliia 

trattic a.:re enclosed. 

A check of the codes or the F.oreign Office tor eolub111t7 

bJ experts is considered abaolutel7 essential, as alread1' 

reported. 

B7 Lotterie Cipher 1a understood a code in which the 

groups are not arranged 1n alphabetical order but 41atr1buted 

in random tashio.D at"ter the manner or a lottel'l'; 

'l' 9 p 

v. s. d Ch. 4. n. 

U. Ch. d. G. 

(Signed) von Ma!f&OV ! 

S E 9 R B 'l' - ' ' ~ - .l 
REF ID:A58170 

'!'OP• 8B9RB'.P 

---. , Pore1gn Of'.tice -------~ • B. 768 t.-_...- Berlin,, 11 Augut 1917. 

Nr. 189,l . enclosur~~ _, 

--- -- Very 8ecl'et. ,-'"' I am returning to YoUl' Bxcellenc;r the telegrams enclosed 

: v1 th ;your lette1• or 6th 1nat. M. J. lfr. 21625 vith the obedient 

remark thllt the7 did not originate with the Pore1sn ortice but . ·.rrom the Admil'e.lt7 Starr~ or vere destined ror the latter.-and 

that the7 are enciphered with the Baval oommun1cat1ona book aJJd. 

the Naval ke:rs• Onl7 the beg1nning or '.rel. Xr. 26 or 2 .M&l'ch 

(Sheet 6) 1a given 1n a cipher or the Foreign Ottice and not 

enciphered. 

I leave 1t J'OUl' judpent whether to 1nf"ol'ID the Chter or 

the Admiralt7 Starr or the ~oregoing 

Bo tar aa the dec1phel"Jllent b7 the Admiralt~ Starr ot the 

telegrams ot the Foreign orr1ce enciphered a:rter the model or 

the antiquated code 2505 1a concerned,, it ma7 be relll8l'ked 

that th1a was only possible d~e to the exact knowledge ot the 

Pore1gn Ott1ce cipher material available at tho Admiralt7 Start 

and on the baala ot actual deoiphermenta or telegram.a supplied tro~ here since aent t'or that department. Dec1phe:l'ment ot 

telegrams in tl!e Lotterie Cipher baa not 7et been"undertaken 

b7 the Admtralt1 Starr here. 

The Foreign Otf1ce adheres, tirat and laat, to the point 

ot view that !ts new Lotter1e Ciphers, eapec1all7 when reenc1phered,, can onl7 be reg&l'ded as not abaolutel7 secure itbetra7al or careless use ot the ciphers or or the enciphered correspondence occurs. 

I' (Signed) Signature. the P1rat Quartermaster General, 

Oenel'al ot In1'antr7, Ml". LudendoP.:tt,, Excellenc;r, 

Grand Headquarters. 

,,,-- ---.. ---- _..-Ch1et ot the General Statt' ot the 

Field Arrq I C Br. ~291 Seoret 

B. Ch1et o~ Commun1cat1ona 

lli VIII 17 

Ret'erence 7c>in- IV t Br. 7.IJ284 aeci-at, with request tor 

opinion. ' . b7 order and acting 

(Signed) von Bockelberg. 
I 

I 

! 

REF ID:A58170 

T u P 8 E C It B 'f 

Chiet o~ Com.mun1cat1ona Service 

Section IV t Kr. 7-284 

In: 1- VIII out 17 VIII 17 

It waa aaawned here that the trat:f'io v1th the 1nacr1pt1on "Miniate:r ot Foreign Atf'a1ra Madrid" an4 "Minister ot Foreign Attairs Berlin" was conducted b7 the Fol'eign Ottice or at 

least enciphered there. Fl'cm. the above o011111un1oat1on :f'rom 

the Poreign Ott1ce, as well as f'l'om solution ot another a7atem 

1n thia tratt1c which has been macle meanwhile (Politica1 · Section o.B.L.) 1t appears that th1a 1• not the oaae. ~he 

va~1oua 1 aa 7et unsolved a7atema trom this tratt1c. among which 

that ot the Foreign. Ott1ce must be.tound., are bt1ng worked on 

.rurther. 

11 encloaures. 

-- - - ----- -- . 

Foreign Ott1ce 

Ch. B. SJf 5 

J. Br. 192.lf.l 

In repl7 to letter ot 

I C Nr. '119 Secret 

V. s. d. Ch. D. N, 

d. Ch. d. G. 

(Signed) von. Massov 

~ -----

Berlin. 17 August 1917 

11 Ma7 or this 7ear. , 

\ l enc loaure 

\ Very Sec:i:•et ~ 

Representative ot the Foreign· ~f~ · 

\ Otr1ce in Grand Headquarters 1 

·-- Br. 654 

/t' ·· l through: 19 VIII 17 

/ .· . _ signed Baron von. Leraner 

. You~:' Bxcellenc7• a aaaUJDpt1on that the ciphers assigned to 

the Nav1 vere oona1dered b7 thia ott1ce to be au:tt1c1entl7 

secure, is correct. The Foreign Ott1ce still takea the point 

ot viev that the other ciphers too - espec1all7 the Lotter1e 

Ciphers vith recipherment according to nev pr1nc1plea 1 are 

abaolutel7 secure so lo:ng aa there is no betra7al or cai-eleaa 

handling or cipher material or enciphered correspondence. ~oo long a use ot the code 1a. or course. llkel.J' to shake 

faith in the code and ve have alva7s taken. care to change codes and ke7a rrequentl7. Unt'ortunatel7 it baa never been 

possible to change the :f°J:'equentl7 used codes in Madrtd aa ve 

should have 11ked1 due to the var, however trequent change 1n 

enc1pherment baa been made. 

To the statements ot the Adm1ralt7 Start regarding decipherments ot telegrams or the ~oreign Ott!ce to and from 

Madrid. I have stated my po-.1t1on in m7 anav~r or 17th inst •• 

and have the honor to send YoUl' Excellency a eon herewith. 

OoP7 ot Ch. B. 750 (Signed) von ltuehlllann 

To the P1rat Qu&l'tel'Jlaster Gene~al, 

General or Intantl"J". 

Mr. Ludendor~r. Excellenc7. 
Copy. 

Ch. B. 750 

J lfr. 19~2 

Veey Secret 

T 0 :P 

REF ID:A58170 

S B 0 H E '£ 

Berlin, 17 VIII 1917 

-rrn reply to letter of 27th ult • . D. 3749 II 

With the intimate service relations which have always 

obtained between the Admiralty 8tatr and the Foreign Orftce 

the latter has never hesitated to place at the d1aposal or 

the Admiralty Sta€f its cipher material~ just as ·the Admiralty Stat.f has turned ov.er its codes (Traf'f1c and despatch books) 

to the ;i.·oreign Office. In this way the Admiralty ~tatf' gained 

insight into our cipher s7stems. Since the land line communication with Spain has been blocked all telegrams or the 4· 

Poreign Office to and from Spain have paaeed through the var 

central office of the Admiralty Starr. 'elegrama a~riYing 

here from Madrid, which are destined for the Ad.Jlliralt7 Statt. 

have hitherto been passed on to the latter in clear v1tho~t 

an7 change so that both cipher text and pla1ntext vere available together. Even new keys have been sent f'l:-om Madl-1d in 

Naval code. Thus, the opportunity tor decipherment vaa 

provided. Under like circumstances other codes could be read 

too. · 

In the telegram decipherments subn1tted the Lotter1e 

Cipher vas not employed in a single case. The Foreign Ott1ce 

therefore sticks to the point ot view that 1.ts new Lotter1e 

codes are perfectly secure provided no poas1b1lit7 or unauthori.zed decipherment is given by betrayal or lack of 

caution in their use. 

In judging the Madrid Ciphers consideration auat be 

given to the unavoidable circumstance that they could not be 

changed during the war. other-vise the series to which 2505 

belongs would have been replaced long since b7 the Lotterie 

Cipher. As stop-gap serve the variations ot the ciphers uaed 

by Madrid, these changes are frequent and. 1n part. very serviceable. For instance the s7stem ot the Naval codes with 

al1dable. frequently changing keys is used there. 

For the rest, ve are working unceasingly to attain the 

utmoet possible secul'ity of our enciphered correspondence by frequent change ot codes and recipherme~ts. 

(Signed) ltuehlmann 

To the Chief of the Admiralty Staff ot the Navy. 

Ch. B. 960 25 IX 17 Grand Headquarters ot His Majesty. Chief of the Communications Service 2, IX 17. 

Section V Nr. 79141 

To the Chief o.f the General Start ot the Field Arm,y. 

Enclosed are enciphered radiograms ot a circuit Xoenigvusterhausen - Madrid which have been solved by IJl7 evaluation 

center in Grand Headquarters. It appears to be a question ot 

a secret traf"fic ot the Foreign Ott1ce in Berlin vith 1te 

representatives in Spain. 

'I' 0 p ~BGRBi' 
REF ID:A58170 

'f e P 

It ta requeated tbat one ascertain whether the so1•e4 

meaaages agree v1th the originals. 

l' anclosurea (Signed) Heese 

O. R. Secretary ot State of' the Poreign Of'tice v1th a 

req1:1eet f'or prompt statement. 

(Signed) Ludendorrf'. 

O. Ohie~.ot Communications Service 

Po1'91gn Ott1ce intol'm8 that the Cipher Sel'Yioe ot the 

Pore1gn Ottice 1a being reorganized. 

RacUo Section 

O.B. L. (A. ) 

J). 468 

(Signed) von BaJ.ttenvertter 8 X. 

Grand Beadquutera ot Bia MaJeat7 22 IX 192-7 

Result ot Investigation ot Cl'J'Ptographic S79tema uaed 1n 

Radio Traf'f'ic between Berlin and Madrid 

The var1oua tn>ea ot l'ad1cgrama observed hve in trat"t1c 

lp - e~, a igned on the one hand b7 Zimmermann, ltuehlmann, 

Stumm, Buaache and on the other hand by Rat1bol', Baaaevit.s, hence be7ond doubt belonging to the telegraphic commun1cat1one 

ot the Foreign Ottice v1th the Inal>erial .Ambaaaador Prince 

Rat1bor 1n Mad.rid, can be divided eaaentiall7 into tvo main 

groups: 

1. 'relegranus which have at the beginning the indicator 

groups 27082, 184 70, 2189lf., 1777, 12444 vi th - al'ld. 5 

d1g1 t groupe up to 30900 and rare groups abOve 30.900. 

2. Cipher telegrams vith the indicator group• 005,, 

500', 5'00, 0000, JJ"'', 1)57, ch1etl7 vi th If d1g1 t groups • 

The 1nveat1gat1ona ve:re made on the basis or· 111te~oepted 

radiogl'ama, 1.e., vith the aame means vh1oh - at the ve17 

least - vould be available to an unauthorized, b01t1le decipherer. 

The results are a• tollova: 

To l. Work on t19lelpama with tnd1cator group 27082 

shoved that: 

a. the telegl'8IWI a:re encoded but not enciphered. 

b. the code uaed is azatemat1o; the code group• 81'e 

composed ot 2 and J place heading numbira and 2 place colwnn 

mnbera. Groups vi th the eame heading number lie near 

together in the alphabet. 

Since tbel'e 1• no doubt abOut the poaa1b111t7 ot aolving 

an unenciphered a7atematio oode, and a1noe 1"urthemore hca 

• 

a eolved cipher telegram the ~lat1onah1p ot the a79t_. 27082, 

21894, 1171, ~-- vaa evident, vorkv•• 110t carried turther 

vtth these 17at••· . (er. lladio~ama read. - Suppl•enta 11 a.ndl2). . I 

•• : ;r , 1 Ii 0 '.p I 8 B G B B ~ '. ~ i .1 r 

\ 
"' . \ .. ,. 

1 ' 

~ -

REF ID:A58170 

'r 0 p s z e ft x ir 

To 2. Invaat1gat1on or the telegrams with indlcato~ 

groups 005'• 0000. 434,. 1'57 71elded the ~ollov1ng result•: 

a. the telegr8Dlll encoded with a code an4 enc1pli- ered 'bJ' aeve~al method&. In 0000 encipherment is bJ' simple tl'anapos1t1on ot the digits or the groups. 1n the other telegrm~a b7 addition and aubat1tut1on acco1'c11ng to trequentl7 changing ke7a. (Supplement 1) 

Th~' d.1acovel'7 ot the tJPe& ot enoiphement ahd thus the 

ieeduct1c>n ot all these tTPe• to one basic tJl)e vaa carried 

out by one operator in ' weeks. 

b. The code thus discovered 1• ent1re17 - pl&C8J the t1tth digit prefixed to marJ1' gl'Oupa 1a a bl1n4. llo 

a7atem waa towid in the etructure or the code. ~he oOdtr 

turned out to be the completel7 irregular ao-called "Lotter- 1ech1tt~e". Contra.17 to the opinion or the Poreign Ott1ce 

which "~1dha:rea til'at and last to the viev that the deo1phel9-

ment of the Lotter1ech11T1'9 ia abaolutel7 1mpoaaible" tvo 

vo:rkera were able in ~ week• to reach the state ot decipherment allovn 1n the appended telegrams (Supplement• 2 - 10). Acco~d1Llg to OUl' ext>erience with other Lotter1ech1ttJtea in 

diplomatic trattic (e.g •• Italian JC. 19) it vould be poaa1ble in a te~ veeka to car17 the work to a point where almost eve17 

telegram could be solved tor practical purpoaea. 

The p~eced1ng proves that a7atem 005}. 0000~ 4::54,. 1'57 

can be solved and is theretore open to cr1t1oiam • 

. Resard1ng the appended solutions ot meaaagea 1 t ma7 be 

said that: 

l. The '·place giaoups 1n the heading generall7 ahov 

number and date or the message. ~ese are enciphered ~7 a 

special table tor numbers and dates which vaa solved here. 

2. It ltea 1n the nature ot a non-alphabetic code 

(Lotter1ech1ttl'e) that the :recovered valuea ot cipher groups do not alva7a agree in vol'd.1:ng vith the mea41nga 1n 1ihe 

o1'1g1nal code and that YOl'd• or rare occv:ttence can onl7 be 

deciphered with limited c~rta1nt7. 

I. V. 

(Signed) Stue-..Zel 

Lt. ot the Reserve. 
REF ID:A58170 

' e P 5E6ftE'f 

Supplement 1. 

Enoiphermenta ot Oodebook 005}. 

I. Indicator 0000. 

With th1a ~ndicatop group the d1g1ta or the •ingle code 

g190upa vere tr1μ1spoaed; trom the beginning or March to the 

end or April the f"irat two and last tvo digits vei-e exchanged, 

n:-om the end ot April to the end ot Auguet the tu.t and 

tourth d1g1 t• vere excbanged. · 

II. Indicator• 5300 11, 5300 12, 5'00 1). 

The enciphel'IJlent thus indicated conaiat• 1n the addition 

ot a ayatem ot ke7 num.bera. (Schlueaaelzahlen] . 

With 5,QO 11 there are added to the tirat to •1xth, 

•ttventh to eleventh gl'oup the tollovin& number&: [obscure] 

371, 127, -16, 92,, 51-~ 2'6. 

· With 5JOO 12 the Turnua ot seven to aevett gt-Oupe [1.e., 

tor each 1 groups] ha• the key num'bera~ . . 

237, 916, 121, 1811, ,52, 618, 5,1. 

With 5300 l' or eight to eight group• the ke7 number• are: 

614, 2-7, 81-, ,2_, 657, 2-7, 526. 1,.. 

III. Indicators 5300 (uauall7 with 21,7). ~,,._, and 1}9'. 

With th1a type ot encipherment three d1g1ta or each 

group are converted 'bJ' the use ot·etr1pe. The strips are1 

1. 

2. 

3 • 

. For the enciphement a three digit ke7 number 1• sent 

v1th instructions tor determining Which three digit• ot each 

group are to be converted. It, tor tuatance; the ke7 number 

1• 177 tor the aecond, thi~ and tC?~th digits, one geta the 

enciphered digits tor ~econd poe1tion b7·plac!Qg alonga1de the d1g1ta in their normal sequence thoae or atr1p 1 10 placed that the l ot this atr1p 1a.bea1de the (normal) O; tor the 

third d1g1ta aet the 7 or etr1p 2 beside (normal) o, etc. 

Since Pebru&l'J' the tolloving ke7a have been in uae: 

4343 ca 

1357 ca 

trom 2 II ke7 177 tor the 2nd, 

trom 21 II k~7 272 tor the let, 

trom JO III ke7 159 tor the let, 

from 3 V ke7 018 tor the let, 

rrom 2~ VII ke7 OOll t~r the lat, 

t:l'om 31 VIII ke7 56" tor the 2nd. 

3rd, 

2nd, 

2nd, 

2nd, 

2nd. ':rd· 

-th 41g1ta 'I'd digit• 'l'd digit• 'rd digit• 

)I'd digit• -th digit• 

IV. Since 19 IX a nev •7•t• ot eno1pherment vith 

indicator group 1'57 haa been emplo7ed; ·ct. Supplement •••• 

if,,;,.·. r .. , ··~· 

(Other S~plementa not found) 

' e P 

(Bnd] 

SB8BB'!