Cryptology has been used for centuries as a way of exchanging private messages in wars and even everyday interactions.
Cryptology During World War I
The British began the study of ciphers from radio intercepts during World War I. A telegram being sent from German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmermann to the German Minister to Mexico was intercepted and decoded in January 1917.
"Never before or since has so much turned upon the solution of a secret message."
- David Khan
Historian and Author of The Codebreakers
Government Code and Cipher School
Due to success of the decryption of the Zimmermann Telegram, the Government Code and Cipher School was formed on November 1, 1919. It was relatively confined and insignificant at the time, solely used for peace-time cryptanalysis.
"Its job was “Construction, Destruction and Instruction”: providing advice on the security of British governmental codes and ciphers; the study of the methods of encryption used by foreign powers; and the training of British officials in the use of secure communications." |