Alan Turing And His Influence On The World War Ii

Conflicts from World War I are still churning in the minds of the people in Europe. Germany has taken a huge blow in World War I by accepting the Treaty of Versailles; losing land, paying reparations, and weakening the military. An effect from World War I, The Great Depression is putting people out of jobs and out of their homes. The people are upset and are in desperate need of a change. The infamous Adolf Hitler feasts on his people's wants to bring his Nazi party into power. But Hitler did not only want power, he needed it to fulfill a much bigger goal that he had in mind: the prosperity of an elite German race. Hitler had strong feelings for his country and how the people should be apart of it. Hitler used many means as a dictator to get others to share the same feelings. Chasing after his goals, Hitler eventually pushed other countries too far and caused the bloodiest war in history: World War I. This war caused almost every single soul on the globe great struggles and costed around 50 to 56 million lives, but there is a small hero to this brutal story in history, though, and he was a mathematician named Alan Turing. Alan’s story is one of how he saved an estimated 14 million lives and ended World War II by two years.

To begin his story, we shall start with how the war started. Hitler’s political reign began by joining the German Workers’ Party, and by 1921, he had total control over the party, which had been renamed to be the National Socialist German Workers’ Party, or Nazi for short. An eager Hitler had thought that he could overthrow the government, but failed and was imprisoned. While contained, he wrote Mein Kampf (My Struggle). According to What Caused World War II by Robyn Hardymen, “In this [book,] [Hitler] described his extreme political beliefs and his future plans for Germany. The two greatest evils in this world, he believed, were communism and Judaism. He was determined to win back lands lost in World War I and to create a powerful new German Empire (pg. 14). ” This was the start of the ideas that would form the basis of what would drive him throughout the war. When he was released, Hitler had a new plan. First, he needed to expand his party. Luckily, his Nazi party gained popularity as the economic conditions of Germany worsened from the effects of The Great Depression. This caused the president Paul von Hindenburg to appoint Hitler as prime minister. Hitler later used the burning of the Reichstag as an excuse to ban all opposing parties, and in a month, the Enabling Act was passed, giving Hitler dictatorial powers. When the president died, Hitler appointed himself as Fuhrer (supreme leader) over Germany, which was now dictatored under Hitler’s control. As Hitler explained in his book, Mein Kampf, he thought that the Jews were to blame for the loss in World War I made by The Treaty of Versailles. He also thought of the Germans to be an elite all-powerful race that would take over the world, which he called the Aryan race. He made public speeches against them, displayed anti-semitism propaganda anywhere he could, and took control over learning institutions to drill his views into the minds of the youth. Not only that, but he used violence to keep people from speaking out against him so that he could stay in power.

This way, he began the Holocaust where 6 million Jews were brutally used and murdered in concentration camps. Hitler did not only cause strife in his own country, but also others in Europe. Hitler wanted to gain back the land Germany lost in The Treaty of Versailles, but to do this, he needed a strong military force. Hardymen also writes, “The Treaty of Versailles had forbidden Germany to have an army larger than 100,000 men, but Hitler ignored it. He strengthened the German army, until it had 400,000 men (16). ” Hitler kept ignoring the Treaty by using his force to conquer neighboring lands he believed were rightfully his. Other countries such as Italy and Japan were also invading neighboring lands. This caused tensions to bubble up between the great countries. The hope for these tensions to die down began to diminish as they carried on. Also according to the text, “The League of Nations had been set up to prevent war, but it failed to prevent or reverse the aggressive actions of both Japan and Italy. Neither Britain nor France was prepared to use force against the aggressors, and the smaller nations realized that the League could not protect them. Germany had left the League in 1933. In 1937, Italy did the same. ” What was made to hinder aggressions had failed, and now all hope for peace was lost. As Hitler continued to ignore the treating by occupying Rhineland, France and its allies did nothing. By this point, the Treaty no longer existed in Hitler’s eyes, and he decided to form a forbidden union between Germany and Austria. Hitler also formed an alliance with Italy and hoped to form one with western Czechoslovakia. War did not break out just yet because everyone wanted more than anything to avoid the bloody conflict.

According to the text, “Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain led Britain’s government. It adopted a policy of appeasement in response to Hitler’s actions. This meant that it offered compromises to Germany, to keep the peace. It thought that some of the things Hitler wanted were reasonable, and that once he had achieved them he would stop. France joined Britain in this policy of appeasement. ” Basically, France and Britain were in the hopes that if they let him take over these places, he would eventually stop. Little did they know the extent of his plans. Testing the limits of the appeasement, Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia, who asked Britain and France for help. Without the consolation of Czech, they let Hitler have it after he promised he would no longer continue to invade more lands. He already continuously disregarded the Treaty of Versailles, so why would he keep his promise of discontinuing his claims on new lands? The text states, “[Hitler] saw the British and French policy of appeasement as a sign that they were weak. It gave him the confidence to send his troops not only into the Sudetenland, but beyond (23). ” As you can see, Hitler only made an empty promise. He had no mercy for the people and only looked to achieve his own goals.

After taking over the entirety of Czechoslovakia, Hitler signed an agreement with Italy named the Pact of Steel. You see, Hitler wanted to invade Poland and he used the agreement to ensure that the Soviet Union would not aid Poland when Hitler sent his troops. Appeasement was by now over and it was clear that peace would not settle on its own. The author states, “In April 1939, the Soviet Union proposed to Britain and France that they form an alliance to stop Hitler… The talks dragged on until August, when Stalin [in charge of the Soviet Union] suddenly changed his mind and signed an agreement with Germany instead, called the Nazi-Soviet Pact (24). ” The Pact made it so that the countries would no attack each other or aid any other country that decided to attack the other. It also detailed that they would divide Poland amongst them. This detail, however, was not open to the public and was kept secret. Everything was now ready for Hitler’s big invasion. He had already taken many other places under his control, so there was no reason to think that Poland would be what would pop the bubbles of tension that had accumulated over time. In a way, Hitler was right.

On September 1, 1939, World War II officially began. Britain and France had said they would defend Poland if they were to advance. As planned, they did. War was declared and in London, children were evacuated to protect them from German bombs that were expected to land. Britain and France had yet to attack while the Soviet Union and Germany took over Poland in almost frightening speed. From 1939 to 1940, there were no major battles in western Europe even though war had been declared. This time was spent preparing for the battle yet to come and is known as The Phoney War. Unfortunately, this calm would not last long. Germany invaded Denmark and Norway so that they could attack merchant ships from North America bringing supplies to aid the Allies. The Prime Minister of Britain resigned when the Allies were defeated in Norway, and he was replaced by Winston Churchill. According to a website from history. com, “On May 10, German forces swept through Belgium and the Netherlands in what became known as the ‘blitzkrieg,’ or lightning war. ” The Germans attacked with wave after wave of offenses, smashing through their enemy’s defenses. This showed that Germany had great skill and would not be easily defeated. Only three days later, Hitler sent his troops to attack France. He easily broke through their “impenetrable” defensive barrier. When France was almost defeated, Italy’s ruler, Mussolini, declared war on France and Britain on June 10. Four days later, French war hero of World War I, Philippe Petain, requested a truce once they entered Paris.

France was now divided into two zones installed at Vichy: one under German control and one under Petain’s government. France being dealt with, it was Britain’s turn. To prepare for invasion, Hitler sent planes to bomb Britain all throughout the summer of 1940. According to the same website, “The Royal Air Force [of Britain] eventually defeated the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) in the Battle of Britain, and Hitler postponed his plans to invade. With Britain’s defensive resources pushed to the limit, Prime Minister Winston Churchill began receiving crucial aid from the U. S. under the Lend-Lease Act, passed by Congress in early 1941. ” The United States did not yet become apart of the War until the Bombing of Pearl Harbour causes by Japan. When they did join, they became apart of the Allied Powers. Germany, in response, declared war on the U. S. After a series of Japanese victories, the Battle of Midway proved to be a turning point for the United States, who won the battle. In the mid-1943, a strategy called “island hopping” was very effective against Japan and the Allied Powers were closer to invading their homeland. Also, British and American forces had defeated Italian and German forces in North Africa by 1943. The Allies then invaded Sicily and Italy, causing Italy’s government to fall in July 1943. By winter, Germany was lacking in supplies such as medical aid and food caused their defeat on the Eastern Front on January 31, 1943. In the Battle of the Bulge, “Hitler gathered his forces to drive the Americans and British back from Germany, the last major German offensive war. ” This was the last attempt to win the war before Germany officially surrendered on May 8, but Hitler had already commited suicide on April 30 by then. At the Potsdam Conference, the remaining war with Japan was discussed. It was only after the United States bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki in early August, however, did Japan agree to the terms of the Potsdam Declaration. May 8, 1945 was the official date of the end of World War II. Through many wins and loses, the Allied Powers were eventually able to defeat the Axis Powers and bring Hitler’s violent reign to an end. In many of these descriptions of World War II, an important figure is often left out. A brilliant mathematician had a big part to play in the ending of World War II.

Alan Mathison Turing was born in Paddington, London on June 23, 1912. His parents were often away and he and his brother, John, where to stay with the couple Colonel and Mrs. Ward. By the time he could talk, Alan would get into trouble rather frequently. According to the biography Alan Turing: The Enigma by Andrew Hodges, “Experiment, as with planting his broken toy sailors in the ground, hoping they would grow afresh, was easily confused with naughtiness (10). ” His experiments started at a very young age and only continued to become more advanced throughout his childhood. He was a very smart child, but one with hindrances. For one, he could not tell left from right as easily as others. When he started school at St. Michaels to learn latin, he could barely write. His hands were horribly synced with brain. When he reached the age of nine, he was sent to a school called Hazelhurst where he became intrigued with maps. He tested in 6th place when the whole school took a geography test, beating his older brother. His true passion, which would follow him his whole life, was discovered when he read the book Natural Wonders Every Child Should Know. This became the first time Alan was introduced to science. In school, Alan enjoyed finding his own ways to solve problems and found literature very boring. After Hazelhurst, Alan was to begin public school at Sherborne. According to the biography, “The summer term was due to start on Monday 3 May 1926 which was, it so happened, the first day of the general strike. On the ferry from St Malo Alan heard that only the milk trains would be running. But he knew he could cycle the sixty miles west from Southampton to Sherborne: (. . . The streets in Southampton were full of people who had struck. Had a lovely ride through the New Forest and then over a sort of moor into Ringwood and quite flat again to Wimborne. ). . . For a boy of his class to improvise a solution without a fuss was not at all the expected thing. The bicycle journey was regarded with astonishment, and was reported in the local newspaper (28). ” This is an example of Alan’s genius at a young age. He was incredibly self reliant. When enrolled in the public school, Alan was rewarded for his journey by the head boy of Westcott House appointing him as his servant, or “fag”. When the school had begun to teach science, the master “was no doubt ‘amused that Alan already knew so much (29). ” Unfortunately, the school did not prioritize neither of Alan’s skills. He was very self-contained and was quite often bullied for his oddness.

According to the same text, “He [Alan] was also called dirty, thanks to his rather dark, greasy complexion, and perpetual rash of ink stains. Fountain pens still seemed to spurt ink whenever his clumsy hands came near them… All his characteristics lent themselves to easy mockery, especially his shy, hesitating, high-pitched voice…(32). ” He was quite untidy so you can see why he would be easily picked on. He also had troubles with his schoolwork. Not only in the classes that disinterested him such as Latin, but the ones he knew much about like mathematics and science. His work was incredibly unorganized and hardly legible. This further represented his lack in communication skills. Later on in his school career, an older boy from another house called Christopher Morcom would penetrate through Alan’s long sense of loneliness. They both shared an interest in science and they would both present each other with problems that they would both try and solve together. Astronomy had become an interesting subject for the two to discuss. Andrew Hodges writes on page 53, “Alan and Christopher discussed these ideas and ‘usually didn’t agree’, wrote Alan, ‘which made things much more interesting. ’” Their friendship lasted until Thursday 13, February 1930. Christopher had been rewarded a Trinity scholarship before then while Alan had not. Christopher, however still hoped that Alan would attend the same college so that he could see more of Alan. But on that Thursday night, Christopher had died from bovine tuberculosis he had contracted from when he was a small boy. As you can imagine, this struck Alan brutually and he would write to Christopher’s mother many times afterward and join them on family events. His death would follow Alan for a long time. Throughout his years in Sherborne, Alan’s feelings for Christopher had grown to be more than just friendship. This becomes clear through letters and entries written by Alan. One could say that Christopher was somewhat of a first love for Alan. Eventually, Alan was able to enroll at King’s college at Cambridge in 1931. There he studied mathematics and by then, his was able to properly organize his ideas onto paper an example of his developed skill would be his proof On Computable Numbers, with an Application to the Entscheidungsproblem (1936) which described a device that could hypothetically solve any mathematical problem presented to it in algorithmic form. This was later called the Turing Machine. After submitting his thesis in 1935, he earned a fellowship. Alan was an odd child growing up who had an immediate talent for mathematics and science but had supreme lack of interest in literature.

In 1938, Alan was by now around 26 years old. This is when World War II broke out and the Enigma machine was introduced. It was a machine that encrypted German messages. The machine is set up to resemble a typewriter using the English alphabet. There are two sets of keys, one below that the person would type, and one above where a light would flash in correlation to the button pressed. Inside are three rotors each with 26 encryptions and below the bottom keyboard is a plugboard with 20 cables and 26 wholes. Everyone who had said machine would type a message and the lights would spell gibberish. They would send the gibberish to another unit with the same machine and they would type in the gibberish to receive the decoded message. How it works, is when you press, for example, the button “A”, a random letter on the upper keyboard such as “Q” would light up.

The genius of it, however, is when you press “A” again, an entirely different letter would light up. This is all based on how the rotors and the plugboard was set up and all the machines had to be set up the same way. If you did not know how to set up the machine, then you were left with a million million possibilities. This is what made everyone think that the machine was impossible to solve. When war broke out, Britain planned to recruit 60 more cryptanalysts to try and solve the Enigma. Alan Turing was one of these recruits. It is unclear how exactly Alan became apart of these recruits, but nevertheless, it was clear Alan would become useful. He worked on the Enigma and with the government while being entrusted with the promise of keeping the whole operation a secret from his family. In the UK Government and Cypher School, Alan had configured a machine called Bombe that was based on information from the Poles to decrypt the setting of the Enigma. According to the site “Bombe”, “It [Bombe] was based on the assumption that a known (or guessed) plaintext, a so-called crib, is present at a certain position in the message. ” This means that Alan’s machine was based on known phrases that they would know would be in the message.

For example, “Hail Hitler!” was at the end of every message, so part of it would already be known. According to www. bbc. com, “Turing personally broke the form of Enigma that was used by the U-boats preying on the North Atlantic merchant convoys. It was a crucial contribution. The convoys set out from North America loaded with vast cargoes of essential supplies for Britain, but the U-boats' torpedoes were sinking so many of the ships that Churchill's analysts said Britain would soon be starving. ” This contribution was made thanks to his Bombe machines that were able to decode the u-boats positions just in time to save the convoys. The same site also states that if it was not for Alan’s team weakening the U-boats, the Allies planing of Europe invasion (D-Day) could have been delayed by more than a year, and that any delay in this invasion would have put Hitler in an even stronger position to fight against the Allies. Bombe is what Alan is mostly known for today, but that wasn’t the end of his commitment to World War II. A new more sophisticated cipher machine was introduced to the war and was nicknamed Tunny. Also according to the text, “Turing's breakthrough in 1942 yielded the first systematic method for cracking Tunny messages. His method was known at Bletchley Park simply as Turingery, and the broken Tunny messages gave detailed knowledge of German strategy - information that changed the course of the war. ” Not only did Turing invent a machine that found the settings to Enigma, but he also found a way to decode an even more advanced German cipher machine. Turing’s involvement was pivotal in the Allies win against the Axis Powers.

According to “Alan Turing”, “Following the war’s end, Turing was commissioned by London’s National Physical Laboratory to design a computer. He submitted a design for his Automatic Computing Engine (ACE), but the lab delayed building the computer. Turing eventually returned to Cambridge in 1947 to focus on other areas of interest, such as neurology and physiology. He continued to develop code for programming computers, however. ” Alan had continued to divulge in his interests while also making new advancements. In 1950, Turing published a work that introduced an idea that could test a machines ability to think by seeing if a person could tell the difference between the machine and a human. This is called the Turing Test and is still used today. This work was called Computing Machinery and Intelligence and focused on highly advanced ideas on artificial intelligence. Alan Turing made many accomplishments including his large role in creating Bombe.

Turing is mostly known for his involvement in artificial intelligence and his often regarded as the father of theoretical computer science. His efforts during his lifetime were ignored, however, due to his homosexuality. He was charged with Gross Indecency in 1952 and was given the choice of either going to prison or go through chemical castration. He took the latter in hopes that his reputation would not be further damaged. On June 8, 1954, Alan Turing was found dead after committing suicide by cyanide poisoning. In 2009, Prime Minister Gordon Brown issued an official apology on behalf of the treatment Alan faced in his life. The movie Imitation Game was released in 2014 bringing Alan further recognition for his achievements.

Alan Turing’s life was short but was filled with great actions that connected him to history. World War II was a tremendously hard fought battle where many people suffered due to Hitler’s reign and its effects. Alan proved to play a big part in bringing the suffering to an end by creating Bombe. His efforts were ignored, however, and almost punished, just for being himself. Hopefully, this day in age can notice his genius and thank him for his efforts.