Alan Turing And The Importance Of Decryption In Wwii

Introduction

After First World War conflicts became more strategic, so that each side of the conflict would not loose high amounts of manpower as they were crucial during that period, since the second industrial revolution was taking all over the Europe, causing massive factorization. As an example, Joseph Stalin planned economic growth as five year plan, which required a extensive work force to be fully accomplished. “The creation of new contingents of industrial workers was one of the necessary conditions for industrialization. This problem became especially acute during the years of five-year plans, when intensive construction of new enterprises was carried out in various regions of the country.” This quote was taken from the book, that was written during the 1930th in the USSR, describing the situation about the true importance of workforce. Therefore, when the Second World War began, conflict states began to use mores strategical ways of using the manpower. One of the most efficient ways was to use cryptographic, cipher and plethora systems. This topic is not common during the modern depiction and study of World War Two. Therefore, this research question is investigating whether the importance of decryption is exaggerated or undervalued, as it is crucial not to devalue since if the cipher machines would not be decrypted, then: “the war had continued for another two to three years, a further 14 to 21 million people might have been killed”.

To conclude upon this topic the essay discovers the importance by looking at the sources from 2003 and 2012 to compare how has depiction changed. However, the difference amongst the authors, is that one of the authors is military historian, whilst the second author is professor of philosophy and logic and has investigated the works of Alan Turing, writing five books about him and Bletchley Park, an estate that housed the British Government Code and Cypher School during the Second World War.

Identification and evaluation of sources

During Second World War there were many attempts to break Enigma, German cipher machine, that allowed for German Luftwaffe, Wehrmacht and Kriegsmarine to transfer information secretly as well as attack unexpectedly for enemy. Therefore, for the sources of this essay, have been chosen two sources that include information about Bombe, machine created by Alan Turing that allowed to decipher Enigma. As the first source author has chosen a book “Intelligence in War: Knowledge of the Enemy from Napoleon to Al-Qaeda” that was published in 2003 by military historian Sir John Desmond Patrick Keegan. As the second source author has chosen a “BBC NEWS” article “Alan Turing: The codebreaker who saved 'millions of lives'” published in 2012 by professor of philosophy and logic Jack Copeland.

First source author Sir John Desmond Patrick Keegan was military historian, lecturer, who published many works, that included depiction of wars and conflicts from prehistory to 21st century. He covered land, air, water, intelligence and psychological battles. The origin of this source helps give its value as author is military historian and he examines intelligence, more specifically investigates and writes about Second World War intelligence. It not only contradicts second source, showing different opinion, but also shows what was the point of view about cryptographic importance in 2003. Source stresses the influence of commanding and leadership is more decisive rather than intelligence. However, limitation of this source is that it does not argue on how leadership during the war influenced the consequences, nor does it suggest what would be possible losses of manpower if the leadership was different. Main purpose of this source was to inform and write about intelligence and how it advanced throughout the history, starting from Napoleon finishing with Al-Qaeda. It describes different techniques of intelligence during different time period, as well as states how important it was at the time of conflict. However, limitations of the purpose are that it shows only the authors view creating narrow overview of conflict. Content of this source is based on author set thesis, that states, for command, intelligence is marginal. It can help, but it 'does not point out unerringly the path to victory.'

Second source author Jack Copeland is professor of philosophy at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, author of books that investigate life and thinking of computing pioneer Alan Turing. The origin of this source helps give its value because author is writing in particular about Alan Turing and describes the importance of his creation (Bombe machine) as well as stresses how it possibly influenced the outcome of the war stating that: “Some historians estimate that Bletchley Park's massive codebreaking operation, especially the breaking of U-boat Enigma, shortened the war in Europe by as many as two to four years.” However, this quote is the limitation of this source as it only predicts the possibility of the war outcome, which however is based on the Mr Francis Harry Hinsley lecture that he gave at Cambridge in 1993. As he was one of the first people who argued on the topic of how much war was shortened. Nonetheless it also shows possible casualty count if war would continue and Enigma would not be deciphered: “… a further 14 to 21 million people might have been killed.”

The limitation of this source is that it is an article for 100th birthday of Alan Truing, if he had lived to the present day. Therefore, some of the facts can be adorned, as well as author could be bias, as he spent most of the time investigating works of Alan Turing and creates narrow minded opinion, that mostly because of his invention war outcome was like that. As well as author is not historian, but professor of philosophy. Main purpose of this article was to narrate about Alan Turing and his achievements, as this article is a part of week-long series about him. It shows the readers what he has achieved and what were the consequences, as his invention changed the outcome of war. Content of this source is based on “Turing Archive for History of Computing” that was also created by Jack Copeland and it is meant to showcase the most valuable investment in computing and cryptography by Alan Turing.

Investigation

The importance of decryption could be argued as both sources have common limitation both sources were written and published long after the Second World War, however there is an explanation for that, as Bletchley Park requested for everything to be destroyed after war, and preserved confidential information about decipher machine for nearly 30 years. Declassification of Bletchley Park and Bombe machine was done only in 1974.

Although most of the information and schemes were destroyed, historians managed to recreate bombe machine and investigate Alan Turing’s philosophy. John Keegan in his book is disputing about how convenient commanding and leadership could make wider possibilities for tactical movements rather than knowing enemy positioning beforehand, stating that decision in war “is always the result of a fight, and, in combat, willpower always counts for more than foreknowledge.”

However, if we examine Second World War as a chess, where you need to think 3 movements ahead, as well as try to understand the strategy of the enemy. Information that was provided by deciphering enigma allowed to predict each step of enemy, especially with U-Boats as they were major threat for Atlantic Ocean. As Winston Churchill said: “Germany's best hope of defeating Britain lay in winning the Battle of the Atlantic.” If Germany would control Atlantic, then they would dominate over all supply routes that were coming from North America to Britain. Therefore it was crucial to know where U-Boats were located, so that major support route could be opened and Britain would receive supplies, arms and manpower. However, John Keegan describes, that even having intelligence will not lead to victory: [“however good, is not necessarily the means to victory . . . ultimately, it is force, not fraud or forethought, that counts.” Nonetheless he does not describe nor predict possible outcomes if there would not be any intelligence. Using only force requires generous manpower as an example could be used Soviet Union, where during the Second World War it lost 25 million people as it had nearly no intelligence and was only using such tactic that required to push through the German blockades using substantial attacks concentrated at one point.

However, the contradictory Jack Copelands article describes how deciphering helped to shorten war, as well as save manpower. Usage of common trope that states: “If U-boat Enigma had not been broken, and the war had continued for another two to three years, a further 14 to 21 million people might have been killed.” It is only a prediction and possible first historian who stated was Mr Francis Harry Hinsley, as he was working at Bletchley Park during the war and later wrote the British government's four-volume official history of wartime espionage. However, this prediction could be possible and should be taken in consideration, as if the Atlantic corridor would not be open, then Britain would deteriorate from lack of supplies and basic needs. It would create greater number of casualties as well as it would postpone D-Day landings.

On one hand we have source stating how exaggerated is intelligence and decryption, as more valuable is force, that under competent commanding could stand against any attack. However, due to the advance of technology during Second World War ships, planes and attacks became more unpredictable as well as more strategical. Germany was using tactical plan called Blitzkrieg. It was very effective and allowed for Wehrmacht army to be near Moscow just in six month time. As they were using high mobility and locally concentrated firepower, however it could be argued if USSR would know about of such tactic and location from where enemy would attack, then it possibly would allow them to stop attack before it enters the territory of USSR, saving a lot of manpower. Therefore, there are many examples which could assist Jack Copelands theory about that it is crucial to have intelligence in order to successfully stand against enemy attacks.

On other hand, as Britain severely suffered from German attacks, they allied with America and Canada under code name ULTRA sending all intelligence to them, as they had higher number of manpower and were more prepared for fight. It could also be seen that John Keegan has truth, as if Britain would not have alliance, they would not be able to respond with force against enemy attacks.

Therefore, both sources have truth, but without both factors to resist against enemy attacks is nearly impossible. In one case, outcome of the war is unpredictable and would have brought large number of casualties. In the other, without force intelligence is not as powerful as it would be with manpower and force. However, lack of intelligence, would have brought longer war, more casualties and unpredictable ending of war, as it is easier when every enemy step is known.

Reflection

This investigation has allowed me to gain an insight into cryptography and what is the true value of it during the Second World War. This topic was chosen as I am interested in computer science and always wanted to discover who created computer, however Alan Turing, did not create just computer he also constructed fundamentals of artificial intelligence. This essay helped me to understand how points of view might differ due to clash of interests of source authors.

As there were not many sources about Bombe Machine and Bletchley Park as it was confidential information, and some of information up to this day is kept confidential, therefore there was a difficulty to find some of the sources to be able to argue upon the topic. As well as there was a difficulty to reach any conclusion as both sources were stating differing points of view contradicting each other, without making any middle point which could be stated and used as conclusion. As one of the sources does not have any predictions or possible outcomes it was hard to determine is the source undervaluing or exaggerating decryption in the modern depiction of World War Two, however second source clearly stated how valuable was the achievement of Alan Turing.

Up to the current date this topic is very subjective and bias, as in 2014 film about Alan Truing and Enigma decryption has been shown to the public. “The Imitation Game” showed how undervalued work of Alan Turing was, as well as his life was betrayed by the government, as one of the points films is specifically looking into was homosexuality of Alan Turing, that led him to cyanide poisoning as he accepted very harsh chemical castration, ruining his physical and mental health.

Works cited

1. Ivan Peko, Ivica Veza, Marko Mladineo (2015) Illustration: “The four stages of the Industrial Revolution” Last time retrieved: 04.09.2019, retrieved from (https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-four-stages-of-the-Industrial-Revolution-2_fig1_284719780)
2. Maren Goldberg (2009), “Five-Year Plans”, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., Published: 28.04.2018, Last time retrieved: 04.09.2019, retrieved from (https://www.britannica.com/topic/Five-Year-Plans)
3. A.G.Egorova, K.M.Bogolyubova (1984), “Communistic party of Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in resolutions and decisions of congresses, conferences and plenums of the Central Committee ”, Part 3, 1922-1925, Last time retrieved: 04.09.2019, retrieved from (http://elib.shpl.ru/ru/nodes/8621-t-3-1922-1925-1984) Translated by author
4. Budiansky, Stephen (2000) “Battle of Wits: The Complete Story of Codebreaking in World War II” Publisher: ‘Free Press’, Published: 09.04.2002
5. Jake Copeland (2012) Article: “Alan Truing: The codebreaker who saved ‘millions of lives’”, Publisher: “BBC NEWS”, Published: 19.06.2012, Last time retrieved: 04.09.2019, retrieved from (https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-18419691)