Watch Breaking The Codes - The Rise of Enigma

Breaking the Codes - The Rise of Enigma is a historical documentary film that explores the story of a group of British intelligence agents who worked to crack the codes used by the German military during World War II. The film takes the viewer on a journey through the early days of cryptography, the development of the Enigma machine, and the eventual success of the British code-breaking efforts.

The film begins by introducing the viewer to the concept of cryptography and the early methods used to send secret messages. It then moves on to the development of the Enigma machine in the 1920s, which allowed the German military to send coded messages that were nearly impossible to decipher. The Enigma machine used a series of rotating wheels that would scramble each letter of the message, making it indecipherable to anyone who didn't have access to the machine's settings.

The film introduces the viewer to a group of British intelligence agents who, in the years leading up to World War II, became obsessed with cracking the Enigma code. The group, which became known as the Government Code and Cypher School, was led by the brilliant mathematician Alan Turing. Turing and his team were tasked with breaking the German codes and providing the Allies with critical information about enemy movements and plans.

The film takes the viewer inside the code-breaking efforts, showing the methods and tools used by the British intelligence agents. The team used a variety of techniques, including statistical analysis, to try to break the code. The film shows how the team was able to use captured U-boat codebooks to break into the Enigma code, and how they were able to develop a machine called the Bombe that could rapidly test millions of possible code settings.

Breaking the Codes - The Rise of Enigma also explores the human cost of the code-breaking efforts. The film discusses the intense pressure faced by the codebreakers, who knew that every mistake could lead to the loss of Allied lives. The film also highlights the discrimination faced by Turing, who was openly gay at a time when homosexuality was illegal in the UK. Turing was later subjected to chemical castration, which many believe contributed to his suicide.

The film concludes by showing how the work of the codebreakers changed the course of the war. The information gained from breaking the Enigma code allowed the Allies to anticipate German movements and plan their own attacks effectively. The film closes by discussing the broader impact of the code-breaking efforts, which helped to pave the way for modern cryptography and computer science.

Breaking the Codes - The Rise of Enigma is a well-produced and informative documentary that will be of interest to anyone interested in the history of World War II, cryptography, and early information technology. The film is particularly strong in its portrayal of the human side of the code-breaking efforts, showing the personalities and struggles of the individuals involved in the work. Overall, Breaking the Codes offers a compelling insight into one of the most important achievements of the Allied effort during World War II.

Breaking The Codes - The Rise of Enigma is a documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 11 minutes.