Thomas F. (hardtack) -
I began this book with the expectation that it would be a light, popular treatment of the code/cipher wars of WW II. Having read many other, more detailed books on the code makers and breakers of this time period, I wondered if I should even waste my time on it.
After a brief overview of codes, ciphers and the people and events associated with them, the book then began to develop into a more personal history of the people involved. The book contains numerous passages written by the people who did the grunt work on the codes and ciphers.
I was particularly interested with the in-depth coverage of the Special Liaison Units (SLUs), which are usually just briefly mentioned in other books on this topic. These were the teams that knew of the Ultra and Magic breakthroughs, and that were assigned to higher level commanders. Their job was to deliver the decoded messages to those commanders, let them read the messages, and then take and destroy those messages. The people in these units were often forced to work in trying physical conditions and face the animosity of the commanders' aides who didn't like being kept in the dark.
Both the decoders and members of the SLUs were sworn to secrecy about what they did in the war. Not for decades could they even tell their families. That not one betrayed their trust is a fine testament to human integrity.
After a brief overview of codes, ciphers and the people and events associated with them, the book then began to develop into a more personal history of the people involved. The book contains numerous passages written by the people who did the grunt work on the codes and ciphers.
I was particularly interested with the in-depth coverage of the Special Liaison Units (SLUs), which are usually just briefly mentioned in other books on this topic. These were the teams that knew of the Ultra and Magic breakthroughs, and that were assigned to higher level commanders. Their job was to deliver the decoded messages to those commanders, let them read the messages, and then take and destroy those messages. The people in these units were often forced to work in trying physical conditions and face the animosity of the commanders' aides who didn't like being kept in the dark.
Both the decoders and members of the SLUs were sworn to secrecy about what they did in the war. Not for decades could they even tell their families. That not one betrayed their trust is a fine testament to human integrity.
