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F.

Enigma
1. Being given the key KVOTR, resp., plain-text AERAT, compute the typical Wehrmacht message.

Considering the Buchstabenkenngruppe (i.e., the letter identification group), composed of two randomly
selected letters and one of the four possible trigrams of the Kenngruppen (i.e., the discriminant for the
date), one can easily recognize which key is to be applied (i.e., by looking at the last three letters).
Thus, the trigram helps us to identify, i.e., in Februars Sondermachinen Schlssel (see APPENDIX A),
Enigma machines daily setup, i.e., for 2nd day: (i) Walzenlage (i.e., rotor order for the date) - , , ,
Ringstellung (i.e., ring setting for the date) - 18, 17, 13 , resp., Steckerverbindungen (i.e., the plugging
for the date) - , , , , , , , , , . For this exercise, the starting position of the
Enigma rotors (i.e., Spruchschlssel or message key) will be , , 1.

The encryption process of our first letter, i.e., A, is as follows: (1) signal passes, through the plug board,
towards contact Q of the rotor II, hereinafter referred to as R2; (2) since R2 has stepped one position
forward (i.e., the fast rotor switches as soon as a key is pressed, before wiring the any signal throughout
the machine), the contact Q finds the entrance F in rotors wirings; this is substituted to I which, on its
turn, is mapped to rotors output contact T (this one being also the entry of the next - mid speed - rotor,
i.e., III, hereinafter referred to as R3); (3) as R2s turnover is at E, R3 doesnt flip and contact T finds the
entrance D in rotors wirings; this is substituted to H which, on its turn, is mapped to rotors output
contact X (which is the eponymous correspondent of the following - low speed - rotor, i.e., I, hereinafter
referred to as R1); (4) similarly, since R3 didnt produced R1s flip (i.e., R3 turnover being between V and
W), contact X finds the entrance G in the rotor; this is substituted to D which, on its turn, is mapped
to rotors output contact U (i.e., the input contact U of the reflector); (5) passing through the reflector
the signal is rewired back, towards and throughout the rotors, i.e., starting with contact C of R 1; (6)
contact C finds the entrance L of R1 wirings, being mapped to rotors output contact V; (7) at R3,
contact V finds the entry F in rotors wirings, being mapped to output contact S; (8) the contact S is
now wired to entry H of R2 wirings (i.e., recall that R2 has stepped one position forward) which, on its
turn is mapped to the output contact W; (9) through the plug board, the signal is rewired to output D
and the corresponding bulb lights up for few seconds2.
When the second key is pressed, i.e., E, R2 flips forward one position more and the encryption process
(i.e., wiring of the signal) goes as follows:
= and
= = , = = , = = ,
= , resp.,
= = , = = , = = and
= .
For the third key, i.e., R, wiring of the signal goes as follows:
= and
= = , = = , = = ,
= , resp.,
= = , = = , = = and
= .

1
Enigma machines daily setup, according to the above, is shown in APPENDIX B
2
This result was validated using the Enigma emulators, i.e., http://enigma.louisedade.co.uk/enigma.html, resp.,
http://users.telenet.be/d.rijmenants/EnigmaSim.zip
For the fourth key, i.e., A, the encryption process goes as follows:
= and
= = , = = , = = ,
= , resp.,
= = , = = , = = and
= .
When the final key is pressed, i.e., T, R2 flips forward one position more and, reaching its turnover point
(i.e., passing from E to F), makes R3 to flip forward one position too; in these conditions the encryption
process goes as follows:
= and
= = , = = , = = ,
= , resp.,
= = , = = , = = and
= .

The Wehrmacht message is constructed as follows:

i.e., was created at 11h00, consists of one part (1 teile), of which this is the first, and contains 10 characters
(Buchstabenkenngruppe included). Trigram AAA represents the starting position (i.e., Grundstellung) to
decipher the encrypted message key (i.e., Spruchschlssel) DXT. The Buchstabenkenngruppe KVOTR shows
that the key that was used is the one with Kenngruppen OTR.
2. Decipher the following Wehrmacht message.

The trigram helps us to identify, i.e., in Februars Sondermachinen Schlssel (see APPENDIX A), Enigma
machines daily setup, i.e., for the 10th day: (i) Walzenlage (i.e., rotor order for the date) - , , ,
Ringstellung (i.e., ring setting for the date) - 18, 13, 01 , resp., Steckerverbindungen (i.e., the plugging
for the date) - , , , , , , , , , .
Next, according to the first trigram , we should setup the start position (i.e., Grundstellung) and
decode the second trigram to obtain the message key (i.e., Spruchschlssel)3. Thus,
= and
= = = = ,
= = = = ,
= = = = ,
= , resp.,
= = = = ,
= = = = ,
= = = = and
= .

= and
= = = = ,
= = = = ,
= = = = ,
= , resp.,
= = = = ,
= = = = ,
= = = = and
= .

= and
= = = = ,
= = = = ,
= = = = ,
= , resp.,
= = = = ,
= = = = ,
= = = = and
= .
Now, we will use the trigram as the start position to decode the actual message, i.e., composed of
VGRBD PBEDS KZDWV JASNZ groups.

R: CRYPT OGRAP HYISC OOLXX (i.e., CRYPTOGRAPHY IS COOL, with a padding of two X letters)

3
Enigma machines daily setup, according to the above, is shown in APPENDIX C
APPENDIX A
APPENDIX B

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
R0
Y R U H Q S L D P X N G O K M I E B F Z C W V J A T
5

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A B C D E F G H I
R1
Z N T O W Y H X U S P A I B R C J E K M F L G D Q V

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
4 6

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A B C D E F G H I J
R3
X V Z N Y E I W G A K M U S Q O B D F H J L C P R T

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
7 3

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A B C D E F G H I J K L M N
R2
M C Q G Z N P Y F V O E A J D K S I R U X B L H W T

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
2 8

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
P
Q F H W B C M Z S I O N T A L P D Y X J
1 9
APPENDIX C

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
R0
Y R U H Q S L D P X N G O K M I E B F Z C W V J A T
5

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

W X Y Z A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V
R4
C M W B E S O V P Z J A Y Q U I R H X L N F T G K D

N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A B C D E F G H I J K L M
4 6

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

R3 L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A B C D E F G H I J K
V Z N Y E I W G A K M U S Q O B D F H J L C P R T X

X Y Z A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W
3 7

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

R5 G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A B C D E F
T Y U P S D N H L X A W M J Q O F E C K V Z B R G I

G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A B C D E F
8 2

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
P
K S R L Z J I A D O N X T C B Q Y P U F
9 1
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
R0
Y R U H Q S L D P X N G O K M I E B F Z C W V J A T
5

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

W X Y Z A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V
R4
C M W B E S O V P Z J A Y Q U I R H X L N F T G K D

N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A B C D E F G H I J K L M
4 6

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

R3 L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A B C D E F G H I J K
V Z N Y E I W G A K M U S Q O B D F H J L C P R T X

X Y Z A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W
7 3

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

R5 H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A B C D E F G
Y U P S D N H L X A W M J Q O F E C K V Z B R G I T

H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A B C D E F G
2 8

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
P
K S R L Z J I A D O N X T C B Q Y P U F
1 9
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
R0
Y R U H Q S L D P X N G O K M I E B F Z C W V J A T
5

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

W X Y Z A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V
R4
C M W B E S O V P Z J A Y Q U I R H X L N F T G K D

N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A B C D E F G H I J K L M
6 4

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

R3 L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A B C D E F G H I J K
V Z N Y E I W G A K M U S Q O B D F H J L C P R T X

X Y Z A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W
3 7

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

R5 I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A B C D E F G H
U P S D N H L X A W M J Q O F E C K V Z B R G I T Y

I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A B C D E F G H
8 2

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
P
K S R L Z J I A D O N X T C B Q Y P U F
9 1

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