Aaron Feickert, NDSU Physics Department
October 23rd, 2015. Math Club
TITLE: Cracking the Enigma
ABSTRACT: The Enigma was a machine-based cipher used by the German military in the second World
War to protect war correspondence in the field. Despite the apparent complexity of the machine, Polish and
British cryptanalysts broke the cipher using some wicked awesome mathematics. In this talk, we will explore
how the Enigma cipher works and uncover some of the mathematics underlying this famous cipher.
Additionally, we will discuss the techniques used by Marian Rejewski, Alan Turing, and others to break the
cipher. This talk requires no mathematical background and will be accessible to everyone!