Enigma supplements

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In order to improve the usability and handling of the Enigma key machine and also to strengthen its cryptographic security, some additional devices have been created as Enigma supplements over the years .

Remote reader

To connect the remote reading device (here on the right), all 26 light bulbs had to be unscrewed from the Enigma 's lamp field

The remote reading device is a separate lamp field that could be positioned either to the left or right of the key machine. This made it easier to read the letter lamps that lit up. Another important aspect was the increased security. The connection cable of the remote reading device was long enough to arrange it so far from the key machine that the operator of the Enigma could not see which lamps were lit. For example, it was possible to allow only one officer to read a secret message via the lights of the remote reading device, while a simple soldier was using the Enigma to decipher the ciphertext without being able to gain knowledge of the message.

To connect the remote reading device, all 26 light bulbs had to be unscrewed from the Enigma's lamp field. The remote reader cable plug was then plugged into the empty bulb socket.

Write max

This Enigma-M4 , captured from the German submarine U 505 , is marked with the “Schreibmax”, which means that there is no need to read the letter lamps.

The “Schreibmax” was a simple printer that could be specially connected to the Enigma-M4 used by the German submarines . This eliminates the laborious reading of the letter lamps and error-prone writing down of the individual letters. Instead, after encryption or decryption by the key machine, each individual letter was automatically printed on a narrow strip of paper using the Schreibmax.

The Schreibmax was placed on the Enigma (see also: Weblinks ) and connected via the lamp sockets, similar to the remote reading device. Before that, all 26 lightbulbs had to be unscrewed from the Enigma's lamp field.

Clock

The “clock” served to cryptographically strengthen the Enigma

The "Enigma clock" is an additional device that was introduced by the German Air Force on July 10, 1944 to cryptographically strengthen the Enigma. Similar to the plug board of the Enigma, it causes the letters to be swapped before and after the set of rollers in the key machine . In contrast to this, which always produces an involutorial permutation , the letter permutations caused by the clock are noninvolutorial . This has great cryptographic advantages and makes the Enigma with a clock much more resistant to deciphering attacks than without a clock. However, it was only used sporadically by the Air Force - presumably due to production bottlenecks caused by the war.

The clock was connected to the Enigma's plug board with the help of twenty pairs of cables.

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