I 

il1fl~·,,._J __ •_____ 1~~~ ~~ \~.CS~t!.L, ~~~~~) 1----- ~ Boris Caesar Wilhelm Hagelin was born in southern Russia / 

f(. W • H.r'lC1f'• '"'°I 

in 1892. His fathe~ was employed by the Nobel brothers as 

~ ma··· nager of ':J 

their 

Q,13,&.~t!~p.\J oil fields and ~""''\..,.~~ refine9es~. ta· """'..s.;~-"~~) an.d_rnnrin.g. hya. a.i ~ 

l,_.· 

~ 

fe ·becal\e; an investor i~and"'C)>ns'!l-qeneral J't ~' 't'1 · .A~ 

~ ~ J::llL_ ~ ~-~-u....w£,wv.x;-r. 

'°Cj.'Y1't.99tctpt;L1 f1f 11 A_ ~. • -~ ... ~ ~ d ~ If, ,d, '~ (...(., • '-Ju. l..Lt. '1:l.-4,.i ~ (.4.,..6 l; ~ ~ 

(!.,(A , A. (!,,._,~ .. ,' ~ 

• B. Cryptograph was started in Stockholm for the purpose 

of developing and marketing inventions and ciphering machines 

made by the Swedish engineer A. G. Damm. It was expected 

that this equipment would be used in military and diplomatic 

J 

applications. (~ 

Boris Hagelin, who live2,1'\and obtained his higher education~c.(.,~ 

~..,-joined A •. B. ~rypt~graph~in_l922~ ~ag~lin held a degree 

in Mechanical Engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology 

in Stockholm. The practical experience Bagelin brought ~ll·-1 

A. B. Cryptograph included six years employment with ASEA (Sweden's 

General Electric) and one year with Standard Oil in the United 

l States. ~ 

"L.11~..... ..J.u.-i.-. ~ ,. ~ - 'l'i1coage--h-i~orkiffaqei'fnw aieeover-ed,.that the Swedish military 

was considering the purchase of a German Enigma machine, .anntsH~7~/c~ ... ~ l.-rro•~•,.1-. 

modified1

a:Be-of tM~irm's equipments (probably the Bl, a 

problem-riddled cipher machine ~.-4iaf1l' putting it into competition 

with the Enigma. He offered this device, designated B-21, to the 

PL 86-36/50 USC 3605 

• 

Declassified and approved for release bv NSA on 11-13-2014 pursuant to E.O. 13529 

.~ 
REF ID:A61628 

Swedish Arm~which subsequently placed a sizeable order 

in 1926. .fl'/J 

The U.S. Army was also becoming aware of Hagelin's 

machines. Their interest resulted from the development in 

Europe of more than one series of mechanical and electromechanical ciphering devices comparable to the Hebern 

machine. The rotor principle had been developed not only by 

Arthur Scherbius (Enigma).) but also by Mr. Damm ~ttr..-0amm1.s I.( IAl!flf/"/- f'l~ j n 

rotors ere J::llrc"" V\used -c01nmel!ci&i::i.y inA a machine designed ... w_ ii~ ... _ by Boris : t·~·-\t~~~ ..... ~r-. ---- ......... ..,.,,...~ ..... :.:==!.: 

- . . 

Mr. Damm's death in 1927 .. provided Bagelin with the opportunity 

to purchase A. B. Cryptograph. The firm was reorganized as 

.,.. . Aktiebolaget CryptoJekn~k. As 

·,t' c.crh"'"'''"cAins.. de.s''"' 

In the following years revolutionary concepts~were achieved. 

The breakthrough came in 19}4 with the completely new~~c°itines:, 

designated "-\ the C-series. $ff,> In 1934 the French requested 

that a pocket sized cipher machine be developed that would print 

cipher text in five letter groups and the plain text in normal word 

lengths at a rate of 25 letters per minute. To fill this reques;, 

0 k>~ czypE~r.aphi-£" ,aip, Hagel in developed the C-36. 
I 

_ .. [ . . ~·~ ~ 

.,..ri::~ ~ . ~ f\ Friedman and H':Pl:in had bee n close contac_;,pe-g~rd/ / ~~· . 

development of );l',('B-211Jbut · was only in 19_;;..-t1iat Ha2711n ~ ,...iC1 

visited ~n in Wash" gton and demzns ated it ~.flim nd ~ 

his co eagues. The iscussions wer ostly exp,rator but 

.. ,,.,,. .. . ..:--· -~-" ........ -~ ---------· -----.......... - ... --~·----­

endship bet~n Fr' dman and 

dea~ ~) . 

In 1935, Hagelin began corresponding with ~merican ----------cryptologic - l 

I 

• I .I authorities regarding the C-36. During the course of communication, i ,4 j ~l~ f. i-11~ ·~ 

1 Friedman offered some suggestions to improve the C-36. Hagelin /i'*i.¥1< 

I ~")-LU.~ F .. d b\Ut.-t~!q ;/Jll'41 OA1JO d - r<"'"' 

\ ~ red~signed his C-36 incorporating -E-he- c.ha-nges, l\call"!..ng. it the ./ & 

\ M-209.

1

() :lrt ~ ~ ~tt;a.C-4 i._,_,_,.~ ~~ 

'··--~;~~:--

-

Early in 1940 when Germany invaded Norway, Hagelin decided 

that it would be in his best interest to come to the u.s. At 

the time hostili;i~r~~' Hagelin had been designing 

the finishing touches~to•the M-209. He had a couple of 

dismantled machines and a set of manufacturer's blueprints. 

In his determination that the machines be delivered to America, 

Hagelin)~a his wife, Anne, embarked on a risky trip across 

Germany, carrying his mac_~in~ and.blueprints in a diplomatic 

courier bag. They reached New York on the last ship to leave 

Genoa, Italy. In the meantime, the U.S. Army insisted on 

having more machines for testing so Hagelin arranged to have 

fifty of the ciphering devices smuggled out of Sweden and 

,.,,,, 

into the u. s. ~>S 
Before the M-209 was accepted for use in the u.s. military, 

Friedman, Technical Director of the Signal Intelligence Service, 

turned in an unfavorable report on the machine, as he believed 

that although its cryptosecurity was theoretically quite good, 

it had a low degree of security if improperly used. However, 

he was overruled because, • ••• neither the Signal Intelligence 

Service nor the Signal Corps Laboratories at ~Monmouth had 

developed anything )9at wa~ better than the Hagelin machine 

or even as good.• ~ . .. .. . .. -.. 

The Army adopted. the_ M-~0.9 as its medium level cryptographic 

• 

system. More than i4o,ooo wer~ 

~ .... - military units fro.; division to 

! 

~he M-209 was practically identical to the c-28 (improved c-36) 

manufactured and sold on the open m~rket by Bagelin in various 1sE ... parts of ~he world.ft its operations in theuCOMIN¥"Vrrri~~AWSA · 

. -had knowledge· ·ort:n'irelrtensive··use...Pf.. the ... ~.JB.:by. the ... .f.or-e-iqQ 

..g.c"CLe rnmen ts • ( 15 ) . 

- . . - .· - ---· 

In 1944 Hagelin and his wife returned to Sweden since 

their operations were concentrated in Stockholm. Unfortunately 

for Hagelin~Swedish law enabled the government to appropriate 

inventions that i~for national defense. Because of this, 

Hagelin moved his4operation to Zug, Switzerland in 1948. In ~o ~c.A. ~ ~ ,,I 4..,.111 -~~ .JA. r.i..' 

1959 Bagelill_Aiff:rpora~ ~ as Crypto Akitengellschaft, 

Crypto A. G. ~) 

---
REF ID:A61628 

In October 1946 Friedman visited Hagelin at his home -----J in zug1

Switzerland and toured Hagelin's office where they (' ~ 

:::k::c:v::a:u:~:::: :a::e::~ll~:~: p:::o::~:::::::~s;~;d ~~·~..,,,;~ During Friedman's trip to erypto A. G. 1 Friedman examined old CJ'1~~(~ 10 

models of machines and while at the plant Friedman observed ~ 

. . . . ~ . that there were good feelings between and his employees. 

On Friedman's departure he recalls that "I had almost tearful 

farewell with the Hagelins. They are such charming people and I 

hope they will come to Washington this spring as Boris and 

Anne promise. 11 (~) . . --- -- -·· -· -- --..... \it --· - ~vb-~, 

After~close of hostilities,~ Hagelin&:sear:eh.Q4.,i:rnpr.gl!ing. 

C-38 (or M-209) and to produce the new cipher machines 

commercial e!Ploita~tion. Through informal F~ . W~,,J.. 

contact between 1 

~J.._lfq rv· U'(f FSA)and Hagelin) om#'of IYagelin's new ideas for 

devices came to the attention of AFSA and were studied to 

ascertain their security. The results of such studies were 

not communicated to Hagelin. 

~~;fifflcbk ....... 

a modified M-209 incorporating a new keying 

mechanism was received and studiedLby AFSA. In addition to 

ll, t2. C!t.:trfvi"e/<nL" 

the modified M-209, '6;!~•= ~. :th had plans to produce several 

new cipher machines of considerable security employing the new 

keying mechanism. Hagelin filed patent applications in the 

u.s., Switzerland, France, and Italy. 'l'Qe.S~,.,.ee& of,~ new 

(.C.. 

and more complex cipher machines could have .Efte profound effect 
REF ID: A6162 B 'e03.3(h)(2) 

• PL 86-36/50 USC 3605 

became the subject of discussion within AFSA soon after U.S. 

receipt of the modified M-209. 

Friedman, becaus e of his long acquaintance with llag•lin, 

informed the Director, AFSA. Friedm 

- ~~~~~~~~---~ AFSA, presented the matter at a?,_(APSA 

the chairman to contact the Director, Central Intelligence\ Agency 

After a number of meetings among Mr. Bagelin and his o.s. 

st .... t 

co*nselJfMr.JBeddenf', CIA representatives and the Director, 

APSA, Mr. Bedden submitted a draft agreement on behalf _of his 

client)Mr. Bagelin. APSAC decided that they could not endorse 

- WC: However APSAC indicated that they wouldn't object .te all 
REF ID: A6162 8 E0 3.3(h)(2) 

PL 86"-36/50 USC 3605 

\\\\\ ······························ ... 

being developed by Bagelin. ! '°lM• f ~.\.~d ~~ S-...~te. 

A evised draft Memorandum of Agreement was drawn up E. 

by Mr. Becker of the CIA whichJin essenie 

and thatlwith regard to off-line 

...._c-ry_p_t_o_g_r_a_p_h_i_c __ m_a_c_h_i_ne_s_J_H_a_g_e __ l_i_.n had ~ competition. (11) 

7 
REF ID: A6162 Bt=Q 3.3(h)(2) 

PL 86,36/50 USC 3605 

France had requested that Bagelin refrain from selling. his 

C-52 to Egypt. Hagelin gently complained to Friedman that~ 

although the French imposed restrictions, he was glad to conform 

with their wishes because they gave him substantial orders; 

offered then would hardly be adequate. I 

.. - - -. ~ . . 

In late 1957 Friedman again visited Hagelin in Zurich 

and Hagelin insisted that Friedman be a houseguest. Bagelin 

\\ OGA 
-REF ID :A61628 

In January 1958, Friedman again visited Boris Hagelin 

and his family in Zurich. In their professional discussions, 

OGA '! 

UM,~~ . . . ' . '99i'-Miio and Friedman discussed Hagelins U.S. patent on the nElectric 

switching Device for Ciphering Apparatu~n Friedman was surprised 

at tlW:s-because this patent covered the re-entry principle in 

electric rotor machines, a principle which-wee-first~ ~ • ··'--

~ 'Zif.s. -' :-.·~·"ti -111- ~in 1940. This concept had been documented and application" 

htt6 ~4;tl I'\ ~ for patentnfiled.~ All papers connected with the application 

had been placed in secrecy. The patent office should never 

Cl\. 

have issued '&ll11f patent on the re-entry principle, a matter 

All.t.\\..,. . Friedman planned to investigate. ~-is was not informed of Ui.t. IJM;:1t'~·s 

Di4.,0..c-ccl~. 

any o:E tea pat.en.t-matter or its--:ir-rregu·lar~it.y·.r Hagelin told ' 

Friedman that while the u.s. granted him the patent, the Japanese 

government declined to do so. (24) ' 

ui\A_e-"'--., • 

While in Switzerland, Friedman took advantage of the 

opportunity to visit Hagelin's plant and see new equipment 

models and developments. During the visit Friedman became 

1 ~~ ~ aware of Hagelins knowledge regarding equipment radiation threat. (uS) 
REF ID:A61628 

8,..,.1~~~. Jr" 

Friedman was worried because~{~was putting out instructional 

literature about cryptographic communications, insecure crypto- --r 

Boris Hagelin, 

who was having some problem son, told Friedman 

that U.S. authorties were in a better position to control this 

'1 

sort of thing than he was. (2') 

""'1" \ ~ ,J rt 

Not only was Friedman concerned about -Beile lack of discretion, 

he was also aware of new problems coming over the horizon. Hagelin 

had recently developed a cipher machine the size of a pack of 

cigarettes. Friedman saw another potential threat to U.S. SIGINT 

~ . production. (2#) 

"\ ..,j'...t:v... . 

-•\' 

~" '\ ,,:> ~· ,l,,. . r" ,.c < 

by accid~ent that !,..•..(~ .. ~· · 

1 1 . o,tJ .,.. severa age in 

During this trip Friedman found out quite 

Hagelin had plans to put out three versions of ~~....t.. 

machines1either i~ production or J?' development. 

never discussed ~with Friedman. Instead, it was 

Hagelin himself 

mentioned to him 

by an employee of Mr. HagelinJ. The three versions of the 

machines would be designated as "best;' "second bes~' and "third 

bestb':'\ The quality rating reflected the amount of security 

afforded by or built into the machine concerned. Radiation from 

..t~d 

equipments had1been discovered by Siemens and the information 

""I 

passed along to Hagelin. (2$) 

The T-55 cryptoprinter had three versions ready for sale in 

1958. Version 1 was for the West, NATO and countries friendly to 

) 
ID: A6H2li3(h)(2) 

PL 86-36/50 USC 3605 - I/ . 

them. 

A.'-'. Q,.yptoteknik It had the best features that erypte .'-lr:''&: could produceJ_.,u.s 

fully protected against radiation_, and had total usage flexibility. 

Version 2 was for friendly neutral countries li.ke Finland. It was 

neither fully protected against radiation nor flexible. Version 3 

- was for countries of doubtful orientation or countries leaning 

toward the USSR. ( j~) ~ ~oe.re. c,Nt nit CJ/4-ll"'i}r,...-\? 

In the summer of 1958, Hagelin confidelll.in Friedman that he 

""'°"~ . ' ':,#ti.. 4e concerned about his sons relationship with Mr. Barlow (.not 

~ --17 further identified). The worry was that Barlow was influencing 

·-so.. 

Mlel\ilX• with regard to Hagelins I 

projectsJ\business ~ interests. Friedman 

requested ~o~th the Director and Deputy Director, NSA1 to determine 

I s"" 1t,.J.or.u'.> the nature o nei-s relationship. Friedman confided to Hagelin 

that 

f.AU.t14H_ .... -. added that he 

had something against him and future correspondence irf,iA 1 

between Friedman and'll1J>i.s' had to be purely personal greetings. 

Hagelin mentioned to Friedman that Barlow, during his last visit 

to Zug,did not show any interest in HagelinL work. Boris felt 

. .. 'ftl.'~ that Barlow had been taken in by la tales of woe. 

In August 1958 Friedman informed Hagelin that the relationship .J.iu.\.1 .. y 'IN .. ~ 

~\"':~""' VW1 between Bo and Barlow;t;l.;'-$ocial in nature. However,Friedman 
REF ID:~6162~ 

iEO 3,3(b)(2) 

PL 86-36/SOUSC 3605 

' • ·. \ 1'trw~,;.}sr. A few years prior to Friedmans death he confided in BOF-i-s 

some details regarding his relationship with NSA. They shared 

many problems with each other, often personal .aad-...pr.ivate in 

nature. As evidence of Friedman~ regard for his old friend 

• 

Boris:r'F~iedman sent to Hagelin a letter of introduction for 

.__ _____ ..... I/president of the I I Friedman 

requested that Hagelin provide! lwith unclassified 

material to aid him in his research which eventually resulted 

William F. Friedman and Boris Hagelin continued to correspond 

until Friedman~ death in 1969. 

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