Inside Room 40 - The Codebreakers of World War 1

Paul Gannon

ISBN 10: 0711034087 / ISBN 13: 9780711034082

Published by Ian Allan Publishing, 2011

About this Item

In August 1914, the German cruiser Magdeburg ran aground off the Estonian coast. Onboard the Magdeburg was a collection of cladestine codebook and maps, containing coded squares, which offered valuable clues as to the whereabouts of the German High Seas Fleet. This is the codebreakers who worked within the confines of Room 40. 2010. First edition. A fine, unmarked copy in a fine, unclipped d/w which is now in a protective cover. 2.6 Centimeters X 16 Centimeters X 23.5 Centimeters.

Seller Inventory # 15443366

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Inside Room 40 - The Codebreakers of World War 1
• Publisher: Ian Allan Publishing
• Publication Date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0711034087
• ISBN 13: 9780711034082
• Binding: HARDCOVER

About this title

Synopsis

When the German cruiser Magdeburg ran aground off the Estonian coast in August 1914, the British Admiralty did not realize that what was onboard the ill-fated vessel would hand them a decisive advantage in the battle for North Sea supremacy, and subsequently lead to the birth of the Government Communications Headquarters. Before long, the codebooks used by German warships, u-boats, and naval zeppelins, and the ciphers used by the Germans to communicate with their naval attachés and embassies, had also fallen into the Admiralty’s possession. Having been gifted such priceless information, Admiral Oliver, the Director of Naval Intelligence, assembled a team comprising the most talented British cryptologists who, by the end of the war, had deciphered over 15,000 German communications. Operating out of their humble base in Room 40 of the Admiralty Headquarters, and led by Alfred Ewing, who constructed ciphers as a hobby, the team played an integral role in the naval engagements during the war.

About the Author

Paul Gannon is a journalist and writer who specializes in information and communications technology. His first book, Trojan Horses and National Champions: Crisis in Europe’s Computing and Telecommunications Industry was awarded the ?T Book of the Year in 1997. More recently, he has written the Hillwalking Guide to Snowdonia and the highly acclaimed Colossus: Bletchley Park’s Greatest Secret for Atlantic Books.