Decoding Nazi Secrets

Imagine an encryption machine so sophisticated it would take one of today's computers a year to decode a single message. Now imagine a group of human beings trying to figure out not one but thousands of such encrypted messages, during war time, while the body count mounted and the civilian population was being slowly starved and terrorized by the Blitzkrieg. With its usual brilliant combination of interviews interwoven with dramatic re-enactments, this episode of NOVA brings to light one of the most fascinating aspects of World War II, the story of the men and women mathematicians, chess champions, and puzzle masters who feverishly worked to decode Nazi messages at the Bletchley Park estate in England. Kept under wraps for decades following World War II, most of the papers and artifacts relating to their top-secret work were destroyed in 1946, including--unfortunately--the world's first programmable computers, the "Colossus," designed by Royal Post Office employee Tommy Flowers three years before the American-designed ENIAC machine (today, hailed as the first modern computer). The most touching moments in this documentary are the segments with Flowers, a quiet gentleman who died in obscurity in October, 1998. Rounding out the production are interesting interviews with Field Marshal Rommel's son, as well as veteran German sailors and soldiers. A completely absorbing, well-balanced look at a fascinating WWII topic, this is highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: H, C, P. (R. Reagan)