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Path: utzoo!utcsri!hofbauer
From: hofbauer@utcsri.UUCP (John Hofbauer)
Newsgroups: net.crypt
Subject: Enigma (and the Eastern Front?)
Message-ID: <2182@utcsri.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 22-Feb-86 18:41:39 EST
Article-I.D.: utcsri.2182
Posted: Sat Feb 22 18:41:39 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 22-Feb-86 18:42:17 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: CSRI, University of Toronto
Lines: 18

Although this started as a specific topic, it now seems to have
spread to all of WWII (European theatre).

A couple of years ago I read a biography of Rommel and was
fascinated by the significant role code breaking played in
the North African theatre. Rommel's early successes can be
partly attributed to German interception of Allied messages
concerning the state of the theatre. The leak was due to an
American attache. His name was Feller and Rommel referred to
the intercepts as 'his little fellers'. This was eventually plugged
and the allies, of course, later intercepted and cracked the
German messages. As the tide turned Rommel was convinced it was
due to this, but he couldn't convince his superiors.

If you factor this out perhaps Rommel wasn't quite as great
a field commander as legend has made him. But then greatness
can also be measured by the ability to effectively use all
available resources.