The Contribution of the Polish Cryptographers in Breaking the

Enigma Code Before World War II

Mia Gradelski
National History Day Website
January 2017
The reason I selected the topic on contribution of Polish cryptographers in
breaking the Enigma code before World War II for the National History day was
because I found the topic was interesting and significant to my background and my
interests. After watching the movie Imitation Game about Alan Turing and
British cryptographers breaking the Enigma code, I learned that the movie did not
give full credit to the Polish cryptographers who were the first ones to break the
Enigma before World War II and helped Alan Turing and his team in breaking the

next generation of the code. This fact is not well know around the world. Right
now there is campaign in Poland and Canada to educate people about Polands
contribution in breaking the Enigma code. I found the topic to be very interesting
and started researching it. I thought I can contribute in educating people about
these facts through my National History Day project.
My research on the topic started with finding sources on the internet. I also
found sources from Europe. I contacted museums, such as Paul Reuvers at Crypto
Museum, who provided me additional contacts, Wanda Smigielski, Secretary
General Maczek Museum and Marek Grajek from Poland, who was involved in the
2015 Enigma challenge. They provided me many primary sources, interviews
transcripts, videos, letters and many articles.
After my research was completed, I was very excited to create a website
with all the information that I found. I like using technology to solve problems and
since Im taking a programming class, I wanted to use my skills to create a
website for National Day History project.
The most challenging aspect of my project was putting together my
information into web pages and organizing what is important to display and how to
display it on the website. While working on my website, I always needed to keep
in mind that I have the main requirements for the project: to voice a position/take a
risk, overcome opposition, show a leader, bring change and demonstrate action.

I thought a website would be the best for demonstrating the topic of

cracking the Enigma code by the Poles because I can include a wide range of
multimedia, videos, slideshows and pictures. Before I started my website, I created
outlines of where to place pictures, videos, slideshows and other media to convey
my message. The contribution of the Polish cryptologists fits the theme Taking a
Stand in many different ways. Throughout history, Poland was attacked and
divided by neighboring countries. Polish mathematicians took a stand and
persevered in breaking the Enigma before Germans attacked Poland starting World
War II. Poland suffered the most of any country in Europe during War World II
and many Polish people died during the war. Polands contribution in breaking the
Enigma code provided Allies the edge over the Axis powers.