Louis Kruh

Rohwer, J rgen and E. J ckel. Die Funkaufklarung und ihre Rolle im Zweiten Weltkreig. Motorbuch Verlag, Postfach 1370, 7000 Stuttgart 1, WEST GERMANY 19/9. 406 pp. D. M. 54, about $31.00. 5(1): 58.

In November 1978, an international conference of cryptologists was organized by Dr. J rgen Rohwer, Germany's leading naval historian and Director of the Biblothek fur Zeitgeschichte, to examine the role of radio intelligence in World War II with emphasis on Ultra and the breaking of the German Enigma cipher machine [1].

Noted historians and cryptologists from all countries involved in the war were present and gave talks and participated in discussions over a two day period After Rohwer opened the conference and David Kahn delivered the keynote address the program included talks on, "The Development of the German Radio Cipher Machines" by a member of the German cipher bureau; "The Achievement of the Polish Cipher Bureau in Breaking the German Enigma Cipher" by a member of the cryptanalytic service; British speakers provided insight to the uses they made of the Ultra decrypts and procedures at Bletchely Park; plus much, much more.

This magnificently printed book is an almost verbatim account of the proceedings and the "give and take" among the participants, which provides the kind of information that could only come from the people who actually took part in the "war of the cryptologists." The book is illustrated with many photographs of the various German Enigma machines and other cipher devices...