Paris – The Enigma code was once considered unbreakable – the secret weapon of secret Nazi communications. Orders, strategies, entire war plans passed through them. Only a few machines still exist. Now one of the rarest models has changed hands – in record numbers!
A fully functional “Enigma M4” model – housed in a wooden box, equipped with a keyboard and four rotors – sold for 482,600 euros, according to auction house Christie’s. This significantly exceeded expectations.
Code that makes history
“It is believed that fewer than 100 M4 Enigmas survived the war,” the auction house said. “They are produced in much smaller quantities than three-rotor engines.” An unknown buyer secured the rare item on Tuesday. Previously owned by a French collector.
The Nazis used several Enigma models during World War II, which varied depending on the area of operation. Here in 1940 when the German Wehrmacht was deployed in France (archive photo)
Turing’s code breaker made him famous
The “Enigma” machine was developed in the 1920s to encrypt secret messages. At the time, it was considered a technical marvel with almost unlimited possible combinations. During World War II, German troops used these devices to secure their communications.
However, British mathematician Alan Turing and his team succeeded in breaking the Nazi Enigma code. Thanks to their work, the Allies were able to read encrypted German radio messages – a decisive advantage in victory over Hitler’s Germany.
From secret projects to Hollywood films
It was only in the 1990s that it became known how big a role Turing and his colleagues played in this success. His story inspired British author Robert Harris to write the book and 2014 Oscar-nominated film “The Imitation Game” with star actor Benedict Cumberbatch.
A similar model of the “Enigma M4” was last sold in New York in 2015 – at that time for $365,000. It was also a record price at the time.
