German Naval Code Breakers

Although the story of the German naval code breakers in World War 2 is less well known than that of the British code breakers at Bletchley Park, their role was undoubtedly significant in the course of the conflict. In German Naval Code Breakers, noted naval historian Jak P. Mallmann Showell, one of Britain's foremost experts on the subject of the U-boat campaign during World War 2, has delved into the archives to produce an account of the wartime German naval code breakers. The book looks in detail at how German code-breaking developed after the traumas of defeat in 1918, the variety of codes used by the British and Allied navies during World War 2, and how the German naval code-breaking department was organised as one of a number of departments involved in the gathering of naval intelligence. In particular, the book gives an account of some of the successes and failures of German code-breaking activities and how these impacted upon naval operations in European waters. Amongst topics examined are the role of the code breakers on the major engagements of the war, such as D-Day and the Battle of the Atlantic.
More than 50 years after the end of World War 2, it is time that due credit is given to the important role played by the German naval code breakers in that conflict. Whilst unable, ultimately, to prevent the defeat of Nazi Germany, the role of the German naval code breakers casts a significant new light on many of the events during the course of the war at sea, as examined in this new work from Jak Mallmann Showell. All those who want to know more about this crucial era in naval warfare will find that German Naval Code Breakers provides an interesting new perspective to this aspect of the history of World War 2.

"...a useful and highly engaging study." -- Journal of Military History, 2005

"...delves deep into the archives to produce this account of German naval codebreakers in World War II." -- Cryptologia, January 2004