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Enigma I
The Service Enigma Machine

Enigma I (Roman '1') is an electromechanical cipher machine developed in 1927/29 by Chriffrier­maschinen AG (later: Heimsoeth und Rinke) In Berlin (Germany) for the German Army (Reichswehr, later: Wehrmacht) 1 and introduced in 1930. It is based on the chassis of commercial Enigma K, but has a fixed reflector and a plugboard (Steckerbrett) at the front. The plugboard was exclusive to the German Armed Forces. The machine was used throughout WWII and is known under various names. It is officially known as Enigma I and by its factory designators: Ch.11a and Ch.11f.

The machine was initially supplied with three cipher wheels (rotors), that could be inserted in 6 possible orders (3 x 2 x 1). In December 1938, two additional rotors were supplied, bringing the total number of possible rotor orders to 60 (5 x 4 x 3) — a 10-fold security improvement.

It is the Steckerbrett however that has the largest impact on the total number of combnations. The image on the right shows a typical Enigma I that was used by the German Army. It was found as lost luggage in a train in Italy at the end of WWII, and is shown here with open top lid and flap.
  

The Enigma I was used by both the Heer (Army) and the Luftwaffe (Air Force). It was later also adopted by the Kriegsmarine (German Navy) where it became known as the M1, M2 and finally the M3. The only obvious differency between the Army version and the Navy version is that the rotors of the latter have letters (A-Z) rather than numbers. More than 20,000 machines of this type were manufactured by various manufacturers, but only several hundreds have survived.

  1. The Reichswehr was the German Army of the so-called Weimar Republic, from 1921 to 1935. In 1935 it was converted to the Wehrmacht (1935-1946).  Wikipedia

Enigma-I closed
Enigma-I closed
Enigma-I front view, flap open
Enigma-I front view
Enigma I with top lid and flap open
Enigma-I top view
Protection against the sun
A
×
A
1 / 8
Enigma-I closed
A
2 / 8
Enigma-I closed
A
3 / 8
3 / 8
A
4 / 8
Enigma-I front view, flap open
A
5 / 8
Enigma-I front view
A
6 / 8
Enigma I with top lid and flap open
A
7 / 8
Enigma-I top view
A
8 / 8
Protection against the sun

Features
The diagram below shows the various features of the Enigma I. The machine is shown here with the top lid and the front flap open, ready for use. The machine is powered by a 4.5V battery and is turned on with the large rotary switch to the right of the cipher rotors. To the right of this switch are two screw terminals that allow the machine to be powered by an external source.


The machine has three electromechanical cipher rotors (selected from a set of 5 rotors), each with 26 contacts at either side. The layout of the keyboard and the lamp panel is in the standard QWERTZ order. As the Enigma I is a military machine, it has a plugboard at the front, covered by a wooden flap that has to be closed during operation to ensure that all plugs are fully inserted.

Differences with Enigma D
  • Die-cast light metal alloy chassis
  • Plugboard
  • Fixed UKW
  • ETW wired in the order of the alphabet (ABC...)
  • Rotors with numbers on the index ring (rather than letters)
  • Stepping notch attached to index ring rather than rotor body
  • Stepping notch in different position on each rotor
  • Improved Ringstellung (miniature knob)
  • Battery compartment with hinged lid
  • Spare light bulbs mounted under 45°
  • Knob of power selector fitted to lid (rather than machine body)
  • Hinged cover over rotor thumbwheels with spring-loaded retaining clips
  • Green filter with spring-loaded retaining clips
  • Hinged flap in wooded case, for access to plugboard
  • Keyboard made of cast light metal alloy (later bakelite), rather than soldered brass
  • Lamp test facility
  • Cable test facility (only on later versions)
  • Maintenance instructions inside case lid
Lifting the wheel cover
Setting the start position (Grundstellung)
Setting the brightness of the lamps
Using an external 4V source
View at the plug board (Steckerbrett)
Keyboard and lamp panel
Encrypting a letter
Using the hinges in the alternate position
B
×
B
1 / 8
Lifting the wheel cover
B
2 / 8
Setting the start position (Grundstellung)
B
3 / 8
Setting the brightness of the lamps
B
4 / 8
Using an external 4V source
B
5 / 8
View at the plug board (Steckerbrett)
B
6 / 8
Keyboard and lamp panel
B
7 / 8
Encrypting a letter
B
8 / 8
Using the hinges in the alternate position

Principle
Below is the simplyfied circuit diagram of the Enigma I. At the right is the keyboard and the lamp panel. At the far right is the battery. When a key is pressed, the current flows from the battery through one of the switches (i.e. a letter key), the Steckerbrett and the cipher rotors, until it hits the reflector at the left. The current is then returned through the rotors and the Steckerbrett after which a lamp is lit. In the example below, the letter 'Q' is pressed after which the 'E' lights up.

Simplified circuit diagram of a 3-rotor Service Enigma

Each time a key is pressed, the rightmost rotor makes a single step which effectively alters the wiring of that rotor. After the rotor has made a full revolution, it will cause the rotor to its left to make a single step, much like an odometer in a car. In the following description it is assumed that you are familiar with the operating principle of the Enigma. If you are not, click here.

 Enigma working principle

Animation
A great animation on how the Enigma works is available below. It was created in December 2021 by Jared Owen, and features Enigma I — the most common Enigma model that was used by the German Army during WWII. For more great animations, visit Jared Owen's YouTube channel [3].


 Video: How did the Enigma Machine Work?


History
In 1926, the German Army — at the time known as the Reichswehr — adopted the lamp-based Enigma machine, or Glühlampenmaschine as it was then called. In early 1927, the first machine with a single-ended Steckerbrett (plug board) was developed. Each letter of the alphabet could be transposed to any other letter. It can be seen as the equivalent of a freely rewirable rotor that does not move. Experiments showed however that it was too easy to make mistakes with them.

Later that year the final version, with an improved double-ended Steckerbrett was released. It was based on the chassis of the Enigma D and was given the internal designator Ch. 11a. The first batch of machines (approx. 600 units) were delivered on 10 December 1927. This version of the machine was known by the Reichswehr as Enigma I (Roman number 1). All further German Army Enigma machines that were built before and during the war, would be based on the Ch.11a.

 Full history


The photograph above shows an Enigma machine in operation, and was probably taken inside a radio van during WWII. The image was scanned from an extremely small 27 x 38 mm original and was digitally cleaned up and enhanced. More wartime Enigma photographs are available here...


Rotors
Stepping
Wheels stepping  pawls
Rotors with bakelite drive wheel - notches aligned
Aligned notches
Top view - aligned notches
Rotors with metal drive wheels - seen from the right side
Rotors with metal drive wheels - top view
Position of the notch
Waffenamt Abnahmestelle stamp (with Swastika)
Waffenamt Abnahmestelle stamp
Waffenamt Abnahmestelle stamp (with Swastika)
Waffenamt Abnahmestelle stamp
C
×
C
1 / 11
Wheels stepping  pawls
C
2 / 11
Rotors with bakelite drive wheel - notches aligned
C
3 / 11
Aligned notches
C
4 / 11
Top view - aligned notches
C
5 / 11
Rotors with metal drive wheels - seen from the right side
C
6 / 11
Rotors with metal drive wheels - top view
C
7 / 11
Position of the notch
C
8 / 11
Waffenamt Abnahmestelle stamp (with Swastika)
C
9 / 11
Waffenamt Abnahmestelle stamp
C
10 / 11
Waffenamt Abnahmestelle stamp (with Swastika)
C
11 / 11
Waffenamt Abnahmestelle stamp


Extra rotors   IV and V
From 15 December 1938 onwards, each Enigma I was supplied with five cipher rotors instead of three, of which three were in the machine at any given time. Each day, the operator would place the three chosen rotors in the machine in a particular order, as instructed by the codebook.

The remaining two (unused) rotors were stored in a small wooden box. The image on the right shows a typical example of such a storage box with the two rotors each held by a spindle. Although other types of boxes are known to exist, this was the most commonly used model.

Click the image for a closer look. As you can see, rotors I and V are currentlty stored inside the wooden box, which means that the remaining rotors (II, III and IV) are currently fitted inside the machine. With 3 out of 5 used, the number of possible rotor orders is 5 x 4 x 3 = 60.
  

Each rotor has a single notch on its circumference. Whenever the rotor reaches the position of the notch, a pawl is engaged. This pawl then causes the next rotor (i.e. the rotor to the left of the current rotor) to make a single step. This movement is called Enigma stepping. The position of the notch is different on each rotor (see the wiring table below).

One of the disadvantages of having just one notch on each cipher rotor, is that rotor stepping will be very regular and can therefore more easily be predicted. Other machines, such as the Enigma G and the Tirpitz (Enigma T), featured multiple notches and had therefore an irregular (less predictable) rotor motion. Such machines lacked the additional Steckerbrett however.

D
×
D
1 / 6
1 / 6
D
2 / 6
2 / 6
D
3 / 6
3 / 6
D
4 / 6
4 / 6
D
5 / 6
5 / 6
D
6 / 6
6 / 6

Possible settings
...

Interior
In order to replace the battery or to change the daily key (Grundstellung) of the Enigma, the top lid of the machine needs to be opened. A rigged bolt — with a red circle on top at either side of the lamp panel — should be loosened in order to raise the hinged top lid and access the interior.

After raising the top lid, the rotor mechanism and the lamp panel are exposed. The image on the right show the rotor stack, or drum. At the right is the entry disc, or Eintrittswalze (ETW). Left of the ETW are the three cipher rotors and at the far left is the reflector (Umkehrwalze, UKW), in the image on the right marked with a red B.

Just visible at the bottom right is the interior of the power switch. It is activated by the knob that is attached to the top lid. Just behind the power switch is a black box that holds the 4.5V battery. The box is closed with a lid and a small lock.
  

Below the rotors is the lamp panel. It has 26 light blubs arranged in 3 rows. They are laid out in the same order as the keyboard. Note that there are two additional lamp sockets; one at either side of the middle row. The extra socket at the right is marked Lampenprüfung (lamp test). It can be used to quickly test a lamp without typing on the keyboard, simply by pressing it down.


Note that the light bulbs have an ordinary E10 fitting, but that the glass bulb itself is flattened. Lamps of this time were commonly used for bicycles and flash lights in those days. Although it is possible to replace them by ordinary round bulbs, this is not recommended as they will damage the letter-film that is mounted in the top lid. Never use ordinary light bulbs in an Enigma!

 More about the lamps

Lamp test
The extra socket at the left is marked Kabelprüfung (cable test). If a lamp it fitted in this socket, it can be used to quickly test a patch cable. On the Steckerbrett an extra single-ended socket is present at either end of the middle row of plugs. The extra sockets are marked with a red dot. Now hold the tick pin of one plug to the leftmost socket, and the thin pin of the other one to the socket at the right. If the wire is OK, the cable-test lamp should light up. Then test the other wire.

Enigma-I interior
Close-up of the wheels and the lamp panel
Power switch
Lamp panel (interior)
Activated light bulb on the lamp panel
Lamp test
Testing a lamp
Cable test lamp
Partly disassembled machine
Steckerbrett detached
Plugboard and key/lamp panel removed from the machine
Close-up of keyboard switches
Close-up of Steckerbrett contacts
Removing the keyboard switches and the lamp panel
Keyboard switches removed from the machine
Operating a keyboard switch
E
×
E
1 / 16
Enigma-I interior
E
2 / 16
Close-up of the wheels and the lamp panel
E
3 / 16
Power switch
E
4 / 16
Lamp panel (interior)
E
5 / 16
Activated light bulb on the lamp panel
E
6 / 16
Lamp test
E
7 / 16
Testing a lamp
E
8 / 16
Cable test lamp
E
9 / 16
Partly disassembled machine
E
10 / 16
Steckerbrett detached
E
11 / 16
Plugboard and key/lamp panel removed from the machine
E
12 / 16
Close-up of keyboard switches
E
13 / 16
Close-up of Steckerbrett contacts
E
14 / 16
Removing the keyboard switches and the lamp panel
E
15 / 16
Keyboard switches removed from the machine
E
16 / 16
Operating a keyboard switch

Steckerbrett
The double-ended Steckerbrett had the advantage that it would swap the letters in pairs and that the sockets had a built-in switch. If no swapping was required, the cable could simply be left out. This greatly improved setup time and reduced the chance of mistakes when setting the daily key.

Each Enigma comes with 12 cables: 10 to be used on the Steckerbrett and two spares that are stored in the top lid of the case. Each patch cable as a 2-pin plug at either side. Each plug has a thick and a thin pin, so that it can not be inserted the wrong way around. The cable crosses the connection between the plugs. The thick pin of one plug is connected to the other's thin one.

The image on the right shows a double-ended plug with a thick and a thin pin. Swapping the letters in pairs means that if A is transposed to Z, the reverse is also true: Z is transposed to A. This is known as self-reciprocity. Compared to a single-ended Steckerbrett, this reduces the total number of possible combinations significantly.

The same self-reciprocity was exploited by Gordon Welchman when improving Turing's Bombe, resulting in shorter Bombe-runs when breaking the Enigma's daily keys. It effectively eliminated the Steckerbrett from the equasion.
  

With 26 letters, and hence 26 sockets on the Steckerbrett, a maximum of 13 patch cables could be installed. Any number of cables between 0 and 13 was possible and the maximum number of combinations would have been reached when the number of patch cables was different each day. In practice however, the German operation procedure generally instructed the use of 10 cables.

 How the Steckerbrett works
 History of the Steckerbrett

Cable test   Kabelprüfung
Most of the later production machines, have a built-in test facility for the patch cables. It allows the individual wires of a patch cable to be checked for continuity. If this facility is present, there should be a single red-marked socket at either side of the Steckerbrett, plus an extra light bulb.

 Cable test explained

WARNING — Do not attempt to fit the patch cables from a Naval Enigma (Enigma M1, M2, M3 or M4) into the Steckerbrett of a standard Service Enigma. Although the pins have the same diameter, they are approx. 4 mm longer, and may potentially damage the Steckerbrett when fully inserted.
View at the plug board (Steckerbrett)
Close-up of the Steckerbrett
Removing a plug (Stecker)
Placing a plug (Stecker)
Testing a cable
Rightmost test socket
Patch cable
Double-ended plug (Stecker)
F
×
F
1 / 8
View at the plug board (Steckerbrett)
F
2 / 8
Close-up of the Steckerbrett
F
3 / 8
Removing a plug (Stecker)
F
4 / 8
Placing a plug (Stecker)
F
5 / 8
Testing a cable
F
6 / 8
Rightmost test socket
F
7 / 8
Patch cable
F
8 / 8
Double-ended plug (Stecker)

Key setting
Sending a message with an Enigma machine involves the setting of two cryptographic keys: (1) the daily key and (2) the message key. Initially, the daily key was setup once a day at midnight and was valid for 24 hours, hence its name. Later in the war it was changed more frequently.

Setting the daily key (Grundstellung) involved a number of steps. First the top lid of the machine should be opened in order to access the interior. Next the UKW should be released and shifted aside, so that the rotor-set can be pressed together and removed from the machine.

Now that the rotor-set is out of the machine, the rotors are removed from the axle. Next, the user would select the appropriate three rotors for the new key and set the index ring as shown in the codebook. The index ring can be released by lifting a spring-loaded pin on its side.
  

The rotors are now put back on the spindle in the order given in the codebook, and then placed in the machine again. After locking the UKW again, the top lid can be closed. The rotors should now be set to the required start position, which is visible through the windows in the top lid.

Now that the rotors are setup correctly, the plugboard (Steckerbrett) must be configured as per codebook. This involves removing all patch cables from the plugboard and re-inserting them as indicated. The machine is now ready for use. For each new message, the operator had to select a unique message key, consisting of three randomly selected letters. The exact method for setting the message was changed several times during the war and is beyond the scope of this page.

Close-up of the wheels and the lamp panel
Releasing the UKW
Shifting the UKW aside
Pressing the wheels together
Removing the axle with the wheels
Empty wheel-space
Umkehrwalze (UKW)
Eintrittswalze (ETW)
Wheelset
The wheels removed from the spindle
The three wheels removed from the spindle
Wheel number 4 showing its 26 spring-loaded contacts
Locating the Ringstellung
Releasing the ring
Setting the start position (Grundstellung)
Removing a plug (Stecker)
G
×
G
1 / 16
Close-up of the wheels and the lamp panel
G
2 / 16
Releasing the UKW
G
3 / 16
Shifting the UKW aside
G
4 / 16
Pressing the wheels together
G
5 / 16
Removing the axle with the wheels
G
6 / 16
Empty wheel-space
G
7 / 16
Umkehrwalze (UKW)
G
8 / 16
Eintrittswalze (ETW)
G
9 / 16
Wheelset
G
10 / 16
The wheels removed from the spindle
G
11 / 16
The three wheels removed from the spindle
G
12 / 16
Wheel number 4 showing its 26 spring-loaded contacts
G
13 / 16
Locating the Ringstellung
G
14 / 16
Releasing the ring
G
15 / 16
Setting the start position (Grundstellung)
G
16 / 16
Removing a plug (Stecker)

Storage cases
Wooden case with leather grip
Most Enigma I machines came in an oak wooden transport case – such as the one shown in the image on the right – in which the machine was bolted to the bottom. At the rear is a leather carrying strap. 1 More often than not, one of the four large bolts at the bottom is missing.

This type of enclosure is the most common one found with Enigma cipher machines. They are usually made of solid oak wood, whilst the top and bottom surfaces are covered with veneer.
  

  1. Do not use the leather grip, as it will have become fragile by now and is likely to break.

Wooden case with metal grip
As an alternative to the above, there were also wooden cases with a metal carrying handle at the rear, such as the one shown in the image on the right. This type of enclosure was usually issued as a replacement case for Enigma machines of which the original case had been damaged.

This type of metal grip was also used on the wooden enclosures of the Naval Enigma M1, M2, M3 and M4 machines. It is currently unknown where these cases were manufactured.
  

Wooden case with canvas grip
Please note that not all wooden boxes had a lether or metal carrying handle. The wooden cases that were supplied by manufacturer Ertel-Werk in München had a canvas carrying strap fitted at the right side of the case, as shown in the image on the right.

This type of case was used for (some) Enigma machines made by Ertel, but was also supplied as replacement case for machines from other manufacturers of which the original wooden case had been damaged. The manufacturer code (bac) is usually present inside the top lid.

 More about Ertel-Werk

  

Panzerholz case
Apart from wooden cases, Ertel-Werk also made Panzerholz cases, which consist of a bottom panel and a removable dust cover. The machine is bolted to the bottom panel and a metal sliding panel is present at the front to keep the plugs in place. Inside the dust cover is a compartment with a hinged spring-loaded lid, inside which the spare light bulbs and patch cables are stowed.

Cases of this type 1 are often erroneously attributed to the German Air Force (Luftwaffe). Although they were used by the Luftwaffe, they were also used by the German Army (Heer).

 More about Ertel-Werk

  

  1. Note that these cases are only suitable for Enigma machines made by Ertel-Werk (bac), as these are 2 mm less wide than the machines from other manufacturers. Mounting another manufacturer's Enigma in an Ertel Panzerholz case, is likely to damage the metal lid of the machine when placing the dust cover over it.

Manufacturer marking (bac) inside the top lid
Panzerholz case with Enigma cipher machine
Enigma cipher machine in Panzerholz case, made by Ertel-Werk in München
Enigma machine bolted to the bottom of a Panzerholz case
Contrast filter stowed inside the dust cover
Spare parts compartment
Spare light bulbs and patch cables
H
×
H
1 / 8
1 / 8
H
2 / 8
Manufacturer marking (bac) inside the top lid
H
3 / 8
Panzerholz case with Enigma cipher machine
H
4 / 8
Enigma cipher machine in Panzerholz case, made by Ertel-Werk in München
H
5 / 8
Enigma machine bolted to the bottom of a Panzerholz case
H
6 / 8
Contrast filter stowed inside the dust cover
H
7 / 8
Spare parts compartment
H
8 / 8
Spare light bulbs and patch cables

Zur Beachtung
Inside the top lid of the wooden Enigma storage case, is usually a screen-printed plate with maintenance instructions. This plate can be made of aluminium, celluloid or resopal. In the example above, it is screen-printed in black on white resopal. The text translates as follows:

Attention!
Refer to the operating instructions for the Cipher Machine (H. Dv. g. 13)
  1. For cleaning the rotor contacts, rotate each rotor back and forth individually.
  2. For cleaning the keyboard contacts, press each key individually before turning on the power, and release it quickly, whilst keeping one of the other keys depressed.
  3. When setting the rotor positions, check the windows to ensure that each rotor is correctly locked into position.
  4. The unreversible two-pin plugs should be inserted as far as possible. The wooden flap at the front should then be closed, as otherwise 3 lamps may be lit simultaneously.
  5. If no lamp is lit when a key is pressed, check the battery, its contact strips, its connections to the power switch and the power switch itself.
  6. If one or more lamps are not lit when pressing a key, check the corresponding lamps, their fittings, the patch cables, the sockets on the patch panel, the shorting bars behind the sockets, the rotor contacts, the switch contacts under the key that was pressed, and the normally closed contact of the corresponding key. Remove any dirt or oxide (see also point 2).
  7. Rotor axle and spring-loaded rotor contacts should be held clean and – like all other moving parts – should be treated with resin-free and acid-free oil. The fixed rotor contacts should be polished with polish paper each 6-8 weeks, and cleaned with an oiled cloth. The keyboard contacts, the lamp contacts and the shorting bars should be protected against oil.
  8. Key settings are specified with either numbers or letters.
    For conversion between numbers and letters or vice versa, use the following table:

Accessories
Battery
The Enigma I is powered by a standard 4.5V Wehrmacht battery, such as the one shown in the image on the right. It must be installed in the black battery compartment in the rear right corner of the machine, below a hinged lid.   

Enigma Uhr
During WWII, the Germans made several attempts to make the Enigma more secure.

In July 1944, the German Luftwaffe came up with a smart device called Enigma Uhr, which was introduced without any prior warning. It was attached to the side of an Enigma I — hanging off the side of the wooden case — and was connected directly to the Steckerbrett.

 More information
  

Additional rotors
Initially, the Enigma I was supplied with three cipher wheels (rotors) marked I, II and III. They could be placed in the machine in 6 possible orders. On 15 December 1938, two additional rotors were introduced, marked IV and V.

Three of these five rotors can be placed in the machine in 60 possible orders (5 × 4 × 3).

 More information

  

UKW-D
During WWII, the Enigma I was equipped with reflector UKW-B or UKW-C. The wiring of these reflectors was fixed. In an attempt to improve the security of the Enigma, the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) introduced a field-rewirable reflector named UKW-D.

UKW-D was introduced in Janury 1944, and a special variant was made for use with the Naval machines M1, M2, M3 and M4.

 More information

  



Wiring
Standard wiring
Below is the standard wiring for each of the 5 cipher rotors, the ETW and all three known UKWs. UKW-A was used before WWII [1]. UKW-B was the standard reflector during the war, and UKW-C was only used temporarily during the war. The wiring of rotors I-V is identical to the wiring of the first 5 rotors of the Enigma M3 1 (used by the Kriegsmarine) and the U-Boot Enigma M4.

Rotor ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Notch Turnover #
ETW ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ      
I EKMFLGDQVZNTOWYHXUSPAIBRCJ Y Q 1
II AJDKSIRUXBLHWTMCQGZNPYFVOE M E 1
III BDFHJLCPRTXVZNYEIWGAKMUSQO D V 1
IV ESOVPZJAYQUIRHXLNFTGKDCMWB R J 1
V VZBRGITYUPSDNHLXAWMJQOFECK H Z 1
UKW-A 2 EJMZALYXVBWFCRQUONTSPIKHGD      
UKW-B YRUHQSLDPXNGOKMIEBFZCWVJAT      
UKW-C FVPJIAOYEDRZXWGCTKUQSBNMHL      

  1. Enigma M1, M2 and M3 are electrically identical.
  2. Wiring recovered by Philip Marks and Frode Weierud in 2000 [1].

Norway Enigma
In 1945, immediately after WWII, some captured Enigma-I machines were used by the the former Norwegian Police Security Service: Overvaakingspolitiet. They modified the rotor wiring and the wiring of the Umkehrwalze (UKW, reflector). The wiring of the Eintrittzwalze (ETW, entry disc) and the position of the turnover notches on the rotors were left unaltered. A machine that is modified in this way, is often referred to as Norway Enigma or Norenigma as coined by Frode Weierud in 2001, in order to discriminate between the standard and the modified wiring [2].

Rotor ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ Notch Turnover #
ETW ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ      
I WTOKASUYVRBXJHQCPZEFMDINLG Y Q 1
II GJLPUBSWEMCTQVHXAOFZDRKYNI M E 1
III JWFMHNBPUSDYTIXVZGRQLAOEKC D V 1
IV FGZJMVXEPBWSHQTLIUDYKCNRAO R J 1
V HEJXQOTZBVFDASCILWPGYNMURK H Z 1
UKW MOWJYPUXNDSRAIBFVLKZGQCHET      
 Other wirings



Specifications
  • Device
    Rotor-based cipher machine
  • Purpose
    Secure military communications
  • Brand
    Enigma
  • Model
    I
  • Designator
    (Ch.11a) Ch.11f
  • Years
    1927-1945
  • Contractor
    ChiMaAG, H&R
  • Manufacturer
    K&K (H&R), Ertel
  • Country
    Germany
  • Users
    German Army (Wehrmacht) German Air Force (Luftwaffe), Railway
  • Predecessor
    Enigma D
  • Descendants
    Enigma M1, M2, M3, M4
  • Rotors
    3 (from a set of 5)
  • Turnovers
    1 per rotor
  • Reflector
    Fixed (type A, B or C)
  • Wiring
    see above
  • Stepping
    Regular (Enigma stepping)
  • Plugboard
    yes  More
  • Extras
    Green contrast filter
  • Quantity
    23,666 ~
Options
Nomenclature
The machine is known by the following names:

  • Ch.11a
  • Ch.11f
  • Enigma I
  • Reichswehr Enigma D
  • Wehrmacht Enigma
  • Heeres Enigma
  • Army Enigma
  • Service Enigma
  • Army/GAF Enigma
  • 3-wheel Enigma
  • 3-rotor Enigma
The official name, used by the German Army in correspondence with Contractor Heimsoeth und Rinke, is Enigma I (Roman number 1). Within the company, the machine was initially known during the development in 1927 by the designator Ch.11a and named Reichswehr Enigma D.

This was later changed to Ch.11f when the final machine was ready for release in 1930. The name Enigma I and the Ch.11 designator were not used (or known) by the operators.


Known serial numbers
Below are the serial numbers of Enigma I machines supplied by Chiffriermaschinen AG and, from 1935 onwards, by its successor Heimsoeth und Rinke (H&R). Although production was initially done in-house, it was eventually contracted to Konsky & Krüger (K&K) elsewhere in Berlin. Never­less these machines are marked with the manufacturing code jla, which was assigned to H&R [4].

Enigma I machines made by Konski & Krüger
The list below shows the machines built by ChiMaAG, and later by K&K on behalf of H&R. The serial numbers are accu­rate until the end of 1940. After that, the numbers have been extra­po­lated, based on the availa­ble production data [4]. From 1941 onwards, the machines are marked with the manufacturer code jla, in the format A13852/jla/42 (the suffix '42' indicates the year 1942).

Serial number Quantity Year Code Remark
A366-A765 400 1927 - Initial batch of Reichswehr D machines 1
A866-A867 2 1928 -  
A868-A896 29 1929 -  
A978-A906 10 1928 -  
A907-A929 23 1929 -  
A930-A934 5 1930 -  
A936-A1052 117 1930 -  
A1053-A1212 160 1931 -  
A1253-A1352 100 1932 -  
A1353-A2074 722 1933 -  
A2075-A2787 713 1934 -  
A2788-A3787 1000 1935 - ChiMaAG taken over by H&R
A3778-A5525 1738 1936 -  
A5526-A7974 2449 1937 -  
A7975-A10154 2180 1938 -  
A10155-A10678 524 1939 -  
A10679-A11438 760 1940 -  
A11439-A13324 1886 1941 jla  
A11325-A15098 1774 1942 jla  
A15099-A17445 2347 1943 jls  
A17446-A20215 2770 1944 jla  
A20216-A20812 597 1945 jla  
Total 20306      
  1. These machines were initially supplied with an alternative design of the plugboard (Steckerbrett). The were later recalled and retrofitted with the final Steckerbrett design.

Enigma I machines delivered by H&R (manufactured at K&K)


Enigma I machines made by Ertel Werk
In addition to the machines made by ChiMaAG and K&K (H&R), 3360 Enigma I machines were made by Ertel Werk in München (Germany) between 1942 and 1945. Ertel was assigned the manufacturer code bac, and used a unique serial number range with a fixed 5-digit format (padded with leading zeros) in the form A01262/bac/44E. The suffix 'E' indicates that this is Ertel's unique range.

Serial number Quantity Year Code Remark
A00001-A03360 3360 1942-1945 bac All serial numbers suffixed by 'E'
Total 3360      
It is currently unknown how many Enigma I machines were produced by Ertel in each year, but the list of surviving Ertel machines below, gives a rough idea.

  • A00017/bac/42E
  • A00162/bac/43E
  • A00371/bac/43E
  • A00454/bac/43E
  • A00567/bac/43E
  • A00611/bac/43E
  • A00789/bac/43E
  • A00887/bac/43E
  • A00994/bac/43E
  • A01077/bac/43E
  • A01093/bac/43E
  • A01183/bac/44E
  • A01232/bac/44E
  • A01257/bac/44E
  • A01262/bac/44E
  • A01271/bac/44E
  • A01277/bac/44E
  • A01379/bac/44E
  • A01413/bac/44E
  • A01583/bac/44E
  • A01713/bac/44E
  • A01891/bac/44E
  • A02075/bac/44E
  • A02192/bac/44E
  • A02195/bac/44E
  • A02484/bac/45E
Literature
  1. Frode Weierud, Enigma Production at Konski & Krüger
    Crypto Cellar Research, March 2021. Obtained from www.cryptocellar.org

  2. Frode Weierud, The Workers Who Built the Enigma
    16 May 2013.
References
  1. Philip Marks and Frode Weierud,
    Recovering the Wiring of Enigma's Umkehrwalze A

    Cryptologia, January 2000, Volume XXIV, Number 1, pp. 55-66.

  2. David Hamer and Frode Weierud, Wiring details.
    Personal correspondence, 2001.

  3. Jared Owen Animations, How did the Enigma Machine work?
    YouTube channel Jared Owen, 11 December 2021

  4. Frode Weierud, Enigma Production at Konski & Krüger
    Crypto Cellar Research, March 2021. Obtained from www.cryptocellar.org
Further information
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