Enigma Variations: An Extended Family of Machines David H. Hamer1, Geoff Sullivan,2 and Frode Weierud3 ADDRESS: (1) 66 Academy Court, Bedminster NJ 07921-1083 USA. Email:
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[email protected] ; (2) 64 Tennyson Road, Headless Cross, Redditch, Worcs. B97 5BJ, United Kingdom. Email:
[email protected] ; (3) 4 Le Pre Vert, 1041 Rte de Mategnin, F-01280 Prevessin-Moens, France. Email:
[email protected] ABSTRACT: Several unknown models of the Enigma machine have recently been discovered through archive research and inspection of machines in museum collections. The present knowledge about these machines, including both use and technical details, is presented. The paper shows that the Enigma was not one machine, but rather a family of machines built upon the principle of wired rotors with a fixed or rotatable reflector. It also describes simulations in software for some of these machines. KEYWORDS: Enigma, Railway Enigma, rotor wiring, multi-notch machines, rotor classes, computer simulations. INTRODUCTION The Enigma machine is probably the most widely known cipher machine ever made. It has now a firm place in history and it has played an important part in both a theatre play and in a best selling novel.1 Few other cipher machines can claim such a level of popularity. Unfortunately the story surrounding the Enigma is often very muddled and many completely wrong accounts have made it into print. One recurring mistake is the alleged link between Enigma and Colossus; the unfounded claim that Colossus was used to break the Enigma cipher.2 Enigma is too often considered to be a single machine notwithstanding the existence of both commercial and military models.