The German Enigma machine utilized multiple encryption keys
the verdict
SUPPORTED
the evidence backs this
refutedsupported
the weight of evidence
2 sources for · 0 against
AS REPORTEDno primary record reached; this is what the reporting says
Historical sources confirm that the German Enigma machine utilized numerous daily possible encryption keys and configurations to secure communications.
# Did the German Enigma machine use multiple encryption keys?
Tags: world-war-two, nazi-germany, cryptology
- Score: 11
- Views: 3531
- Answers: 6
- Answered: yes
- Asked by: Karthick (467 rep)
- Asked: 2014-04-21
- Edited: 2020-05-05
- Site: history
## Question
The German Enigma machines are the key for German victories during the early years of World War II. When the Allies managed to capture few Enigma machines and decode then the face of war began to change in favor of Allies.
My question is, is it possible to have multiple encryption/decryption keys in a same enigma machines?
So that it enables the users to send/receive the 1st message using a different encryption/decryption key and the next message using a different key.
## Answers
### Answer by mgkrebbs (score: 18 [ACCEPTED])
The Enigma machines and the breaking of the Enigma code were not the main determinants of the outcome of World War II, but did contribute to the outcome.
There were only a few types of Enigma machines, so they had to be capable of using different encryption keys. If machines used the same encryption key for message after message, the encryption would be broken before too long, and then all suc
NOVA Online | Decoding Nazi Secrets | How the Enigma Works (2)
How the Enigma Works Part 2 | Back to Part 1 In choosing a basic set-up for the machine, there was a choice from the 60 possible wheel orders, the 17,576 ring-settings for each wheel order, and over 150 million million stecker-pairings (allowing for six self-steckered letters). So the total number of daily possible keys was about 159 million million million. In each of these configurations, the machine had a period of 16,900 (26 x 25 x 26) keyings before the mechanism returned to its original position. But there were weak points. The Enigma is simply a swapping machine of an advanced type. All Enigmas of the same model, set up in the same way, will produce identical swaps. In any position where keying B gives T, keying T will give B. And keying B can never give B. Although it was possible for one cipher clerk to carry out all the tasks of the enciphering procedure himself, this would have been a lengthy and confusing process; normally it called for a team of two. The cipher clerk would look at his signal text, which might begin Panzer ("tank(s)"). Typing P might give M on the lampboard; his Number Two would read this a
Everything we examined (2)
This check searched the claim as stated. It did not run a separate search for evidence against it.