Virtual Enigma
From WW2 to WWW
A 3D simulation of the Enigma cipher machine
Released today in celebration of Alan Turing's Birthday 23rd June 2021
Try our latest simulation, Virtual Hagelin M-209
From WW2 to WWW
A 3D simulation of the Enigma cipher machine
Released today in celebration of Alan Turing's Birthday 23rd June 2021
Enigma is the brand name of a series of cipher machines developed in Germany between 1923 and 1945.
A number of these machines were used during World War 2 by the German Army, Navy and Air Force, this website has simulations for both the three rotor Enigma I used by the Heer (Army) and Luftwaffe (Air Force) and the four rotor Enigma M4 used by the Kriegsmarine (German Navy).
The Enigma code was cracked and read initially by the Poles in 1932 with Bletchley Park continuing and expanding on this work where they regularly read the German encrypted messages throughout the war.
Virtual Enigma is a 3d Enigma simulation which can run using just your browser. No install is necessary. It was released on Alan Turing's 109th Birthday 23rd June 2021
Requires recent internet browser, Google Chrome is highly recommended. For Mac, please use Chrome or Firefox (Safari does not have the required 3d webgl engine yet). For mobile/tablet, a fast processor is recommended for best use.
What was Enigma How did it work How do I use the simulation!A number of simulations are available of machines which ran at Bletchley Park and in Germany during WW2.
Also now including Virtual ERNIE, the Premium Bond random number generator, which was designed and build by some of the same engineers as Colossus.
Virtual Enigma, a full 3D simulation of the German Enigma machine is available as well as the Turing-Welchman Bombe, the machine built to crack it!
A simulation of the first electronic computer which broke the German Lorenz cipher during WW2 at Bletchley Park.
The Lorenz SZ40/42 was a formidable cipher attachment used by the German High Command. Use the machine that Colossus was built to break.
The Turing-Welchman Bombe was an electro-mechanical device used at Bletchley Park and its outstations during World War II to assist in breaking the Enigma cipher.
Enigma machines were a series of cipher machines developed in Germany between 1923-1945. Cracked initially by the Polish and then expanded on and broken daily at Bletchley Park. A fully usable 3D simulation of two models.
The Hagelin M-209 is a portable, mechanical cipher machine used by the US military primarily in World War II, though it remained in active use through the Korean War.
The Dragon was built by the Signal Security Agency (SSA) at Arlington Hall, Virginia and was used at Bletchley Park to help break Lorenz codes. It was used to search for a crib (a guess at the text) within the cipher message.
E.R.N.I.E stands for the Electronic Random Number Indicator Equipment and is a hardware random number generator built in 1956 to find winners each month for the National Savings Premium Bond prize draw.
Typex was a British cipher machine which used a very similar method of enciphering to Enigma. It was also used at Bletchley Park to decipher Enigma messages once the Bombes had found the day key.
A simulation of the ICT 1301 2nd generation computer, specifically serial number 6, named Flossie.
A number of people I need to say thanks and tip my hat to...
www.TNMOC.org .. The National Museum of Computing where my obsession was sparked! Make sure you find time to see their rebuilt and fully working Bombe and Enigma demonstrations at the museum but also so much more including Colossus and the galleries on the breaking of Lorenz, the WITCH & EDSAC, Elliott 308 and all manner of home computers you can use.
www.bletchleypark.org.uk If you are interested in code breaking or WW2, this place has to be on your must visit list. An amazing experience!
CryptoMuseum.com .. this site's amazing closeup images and breakdown of Enigma plus technical details were invaluable.
Helge Fykse (la6nca) .. for his assistance with an appropriate transceiver to simulate and an amazing collection of WW2 radios!
Virtual Enigma by virtualcolossus.co.uk is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Please feel free to use Virtual Enigma to learn or teach others about the Enigma machine and the work done at Bletchley Park. If you find it useful or if you have any feedback or ideas for making it easier to use or understand, please do let me know.
It takes a long time to research and build these simulations and I love to hear about them being used, whether for your own information or in a classroom for STEM. Do please drop me a line to let me know if you do!
