The German Spy Museum presents espionage as a history of information moving through changing technologies. A visible Enigma machine anchors the story, but its cryptographic challenge depended on human analysis, procedural mistakes, and the work of codebreakers across national boundaries.
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The Enigma machine looks mechanical and compact, yet its purpose was to make a message unreadable without the right settings. German engineer Arthur Scherbius developed the first Enigma model in 1918; later versions were used by Nazi Germany’s military during World War II.
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UpgradeQuick facts
- Arthur Scherbius developed the first Enigma machine in 1918.
- The Enigma I was used by the German Army.
- Polish and British cryptanalysts contributed to breaking Enigma traffic.
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