C0006

Enigma Umkehrwalze D
Title
Enigma Umkehrwalze D
Production date
1944
Additional Title information
A rewirable reflector for an Enigma I machine, destroyed at the end of the Second World War.
MATERIAL(s)
Aluminium, brass, bakelite.
Type
Cipher machine part
DIMENSIONS
75 x 75 x 35 mm
Serial number(s)
A12983
Contributer(S)
Chiffriermaschine AG
COLLECTION NUMBER
C0006
CONDITION
Fair. Some corrosion, with typical split in outer casing.
Category / Subcategory (if applicable)
Location
Main collection (Warwickshire, UK).
STATUS
In storage
provenance
Purchased from a German dealer.
Acquisition Date
Jul 2019
Associated object(S)
Record Last Updated
Sep 24, 2023
DESCRIPTION
An Enigma Umkehrwalze D (UKW-D, D Reflector), a rewirable reflector introduced for use by the radio networks of the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) as a means of improving communications security. This example, found among other D reflectors, was dug up from the ground - most likely from a pit filled with discarded German radio and cipher equipment when Germany surrendered in 1945. Therefore, it does exhibit some damage where a sharp implement appears to have been used to destroy it, and also some corrosion.
Notes
Unlike the design of earlier reflectors, the UKW-D was a field-rewardable reflector. A modified version was also used by the German Navy (Kriegsmarine) in order to communicate with the Luftwaffe. As the UKW-D was not distributed very widely and introduced late into the War, it is very rare. This factor also stopped the UKW-D from causing as significant a headache for Allied codebreakers as it could have caused.
No items found.
Cite this object

Click the citation
to copy to clipboard.
Chiffriermaschine. Object title goes here (Object C0001). Chiffriermaschine Collection Online. Last updated: <insert date here>. https://www.chiffriermaschine.com/explore/object-link-goes-here.