Update

In Compromise of State Department communications in WWII I made the following correction. I had written that the M-325 SIGFOY cipher machine was introduced into service in the second half of 1944, however that was not correct.

According to NARA - RG 59 - Purport Lists for the Department of State Decimal File 1910-1944 – microfilm 611 - 119.25 MC-325 the device was distributed to foreign posts in the second half of 1944 but the keylists were for the period January-June 1945. Thus the device could not have been used in 1944 by the State Department.

Information on State Department codes and ciphers

NARA has uploaded the microfilms containing entries on WWII era State Department codes and ciphers.

The entries dealing with cryptology are the 119.25.

Microfilm 444

Microfilm 445

Microfilm 611

The missing NAAst 5 reports

Although I’ve given up on getting these files (for reasons that have already been mentioned) I will post this information in the hope that someone else will succeed.

At the US national archives, in the NSA transfer group TR-0457-2016-0017, box 45, folder 3953 there is a file titled ‘KOMMANDEUR DER NACHRICHTEN AUFKLARUNG 5, 1944 (S-013,494)’.

It is possible that this file contains the missing NAASt5 reports. Maybe someone can get hold of this file and solve the mystery.  

HistoCrypt 2019

Information on this year's International Conference on Historical Cryptology:

The International Conference on Historical Cryptology (HistoCrypt) is an annual conference on historical cryptology. The 2019 edition will be held from June 23-26, 2019 in the Mundaneum, Mons, Belgium.

Topics

HistoCrypt addresses all aspects of historical cryptography and cryptanalysis. The conference's subjects include, but are not limited to:

the use of cryptography in military, diplomacy, business, and other areas

analysis of historical ciphers with the help of modern computerized methods

unsolved historical cryptograms, including the Voynich Manuscript

the Enigma and other encryption machines

the history of modern (computer-based) cryptography

linguistic aspects of cryptography

the influence of cryptography on the course of history

teaching and promoting cryptography in schools, universities, and the public

Participation in the conference is mandatory for at least one author of each accepted paper. 

Submissions from those who are new to the field, particularly students, are very welcome.

We are looking forward to seeing you in Mons, Belgium

The Organizing Committee of HistoCrypt 2019

Contact: jjq@uclouvain.be

Critical analysis of the effects of the Fortitude deception

‘Operation FORTITUDE SOUTH: An Analysis of its Influence upon German Dispositions and Conduct of Operations in 1944’ by Craig Bickell.

Interesting articles

1). ‘A German perspective on allied deception operations in the Second World War’ by Klaus‐Jürgen Müller. (excellent analysis of the problems of Anglo WWII historiography)

2). ‘Seeing things differently: contrasting narratives of British and German photographic intelligence during the Second World War’ by Joseph W. Caddell Jr.

Interesting article on the Funkabwehr by Coldspur

The Mystery of the Undetected Radios (Part 4)

Analysis of the Asia Minor campaign of 1919-1922

Impressive analysis of the Asia Minor campaign of 1919-1922 (in Greek):

Η Μικρασιατική Εκστρατεία

I’ve always been interested in the Asia Minor campaign but unfortunately the books I’ve read so far tended to lack an in depth analysis of why the Greek forces failed to defeat the weakened Kemalist army.

The essays posted at the aforementioned site clearly point out the underlying problems of the Greek armed forces: the lack of professionalism of the officer corps, the rigid planning at the operational and strategic level and the lack of support between infantry, artillery and cavalry.

Great stuff!