Enigma (code used by U-boats)

The Enigma machine was a sophisticated German cipher device used by U-boats during World War II to encrypt military communications. It utilized a series of rotating electrodes (rotors) to scramble messages into complex codes, ensuring that only someone with the correct settings could decode them. The Germans believed Enigma was unbreakable, which gave U-boats an advantage in stealth and coordination. However, Allied cryptanalysts, notably at Bletchley Park, developed techniques and captured key Enigma materials, allowing them to systematically decipher U-boat communications. This breakthrough significantly contributed to the Allied war effort and the defeat of German submarines.