Homepage Crypto Index Enigma Hagelin Fialka Siemens Philips Nema Transvertex Gretag Telsy Tadiran Racal USA USSR UK Voice Hand Mixers Phones Spy sets Burst encoders Intercept Covert Radio PC Donate Kits Shop News Events Wanted Contact Links Lorenz SZ-40/42 Teleprinter cipher - wanted item The SZ-40 was an electro-mechanical wheel-based cipher machine for teleprinter signals (telex). It was developed by Lorenz and used during WWII by the German Army at the highest level. The machine was improved twice (SZ-42a and SZ-42b) and was broken during WWII by the codebreakers at Bletchley Park (UK) with the aid of the Colossus computer.   During WWII, the German Army used a variety of cipher machines, of which the Enigma machine is probably known best. For secure teleprinter communication (telex) they used the Siemens T-52 Geheimschreiber, the Lorenz SZ-40, and later the Siemens T-43 one-time pad machine. The machine was called Schlüsselzusatz (SZ). It was connected between the teleprinter and the line, and was suitable for online as well as offline traffic. Only a small number of machines was ever built and they were used by the German Army High Command (Oberst-Kommando). The image on the right shows one of the very few Lorenz SZ-40/42 machines that have survived. It was found in Germany and is now on public display in the museum at Bletchley Park.      Models SZ-40 SZ-42a SZ-42b Colossus Colossus was an electronic digital computer, built during WWII from over 1700 valves (tubes). It was used to break the codes of the Lorenz SZ-40 cipher machine. Colossus is sometimes referred to as the world's first programmable digital electronic computer. In any case, it was conceived before the American ENIAC.  More information      Wanted item As only a few Lorenz SZ-40/42 machines have survived the war, the chances are very slim that we will ever find one on the surplus market. Nevertheless, we have listed it here as a wanted item, as we think it is needed to tell the other half of the story of Bletchley Park. Until that time, this page will be used as a placeholder for information about the Lorenz SZ-40/42. If you have any information that you want to share with us, please contact us.   References B. Jack Copeland, Colossus, Breaking the German Tunny Code at Bletchley Park An illustrated history. The Rutherford Journal, Volume 3, 2010. Tony Sale et al., Colossus Rebuild Project Tony Sale, Colossus 1943-1996, And How it Helped to Break the German Lorenz Cipher in WWII. ISBN 978-0947712365. Further information More about Colossus About Bletchley Park Siemens T-52, another war-time teleprinter cipher Siemens T-43, a one-time tape machine (mixer) Main crypto page Any links shown in red are currently unavailable. If you like this website, why not make a donation? © Copyright 2009-2012, Paul Reuvers & Marc Simons. Last changed: Mon,14 May 2012.09:40:09