How the Enigma Code Machine Was Built

An illustrated inventions story from Wonder Inventions — free to read, with narration.

How the Enigma Code Machine Was Built — an illustrated inventions story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Inventions.

How the Enigma Code Machine Was Built — book cover — Wonder Inventions
How the Enigma Code Machine Was Built — an illustrated inventions story. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Inventions.

Page 1

Adaeze skipped through the swirling, luminescent dust that seemed to dance only within the meteor shower carnival. "Wow, Petra, look at the shimmering popcorn!"…
Adaeze skipped through the swirling, luminescent dust that seemed to dance only within the meteor shower carnival. "Wow, Petra, look at the shimmering popcorn!" she exclaimed, pointing to a vendor selling oddly glowing treats. Petra chuckled, "It's all part of the show, Adaeze. But tell me, have you ever stopped to think about how we send secret messages?"

Adaeze skipped through the swirling, luminescent dust that seemed to dance only within the meteor shower carnival. "Wow, Petra, look at the shimmering popcorn!" she exclaimed, pointing to a vendor selling oddly glowing treats. Petra chuckled, "It's all part of the show, Adaeze. But tell me, have you ever stopped to think about how we send secret messages?"

Page 2

"Secret messages? You mean like in spy movies?" Adaeze asked, eyes wide with curiosity. Petra nodded. "Indeed! But how did they do it before computers?
"Secret messages? You mean like in spy movies?" Adaeze asked, eyes wide with curiosity. Petra nodded. "Indeed! But how did they do it before computers? Who invented codes that were nearly impossible to crack?" Adaeze's face lit up. "Oh! I bet my Invention Encyclopedia knows! Come on!" She grabbed Petra's hand and dashed towards the shimmering Ferris wheel, which concealed the entrance to a hidden tent, her personal gateway to the past.

"Secret messages? You mean like in spy movies?" Adaeze asked, eyes wide with curiosity. Petra nodded. "Indeed! But how did they do it before computers? Who invented codes that were nearly impossible to crack?" Adaeze's face lit up. "Oh! I bet my Invention Encyclopedia knows! Come on!" She grabbed Petra's hand and dashed towards the shimmering Ferris wheel, which concealed the entrance to a hidden tent, her personal gateway to the past.

Page 3

Back in Adaeze's science-themed bedroom – magically conjured within the tent – Adaeze yanked her worn leather notebook from her backpack and flipped open her…
Back in Adaeze's science-themed bedroom – magically conjured within the tent – Adaeze yanked her worn leather notebook from her backpack and flipped open her glowing Invention Encyclopedia. "The Enigma Machine!" she exclaimed, her eyes scanning the page. Petra leaned closer. "It says here it was used in World War II. It was created by German engineer Arthur Scherbius. "Oh, wow. I want to see how that happened."

Back in Adaeze's science-themed bedroom – magically conjured within the tent – Adaeze yanked her worn leather notebook from her backpack and flipped open her glowing Invention Encyclopedia. "The Enigma Machine!" she exclaimed, her eyes scanning the page. Petra leaned closer. "It says here it was used in World War II. It was created by German engineer Arthur Scherbius. "Oh, wow. I want to see how that happened."

Page 4

With a flash of light and a dizzying swirl, they found themselves in a bustling, dimly lit workshop in 1930s Berlin. A man with spectacles hunched over a…
With a flash of light and a dizzying swirl, they found themselves in a bustling, dimly lit workshop in 1930s Berlin. A man with spectacles hunched over a complex device of wires and rotors, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Look!" Adaeze whispered, pointing, "It's Arthur Scherbius!" Arthur sighed deeply, running a hand through his thinning hair. "This encoding is too easy to break. The military needs something better!"

With a flash of light and a dizzying swirl, they found themselves in a bustling, dimly lit workshop in 1930s Berlin. A man with spectacles hunched over a complex device of wires and rotors, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Look!" Adaeze whispered, pointing, "It's Arthur Scherbius!" Arthur sighed deeply, running a hand through his thinning hair. "This encoding is too easy to break. The military needs something better!"

Page 5

"What's wrong, Mr. Scherbius?" Adaeze asked, stepping forward. Scherbius jumped, startled. "Who are you two?" he asked, adjusting his spectacles.
"What's wrong, Mr. Scherbius?" Adaeze asked, stepping forward. Scherbius jumped, startled. "Who are you two?" he asked, adjusting his spectacles. Adaeze quickly explained they were from the future, studying his invention. He looked skeptical but intrigued. "The problem is the code is predictable. It needs to change every single time a message is sent, but how? I thought I could use electrical signals and rotors, but it's not enough!"

"What's wrong, Mr. Scherbius?" Adaeze asked, stepping forward. Scherbius jumped, startled. "Who are you two?" he asked, adjusting his spectacles. Adaeze quickly explained they were from the future, studying his invention. He looked skeptical but intrigued. "The problem is the code is predictable. It needs to change every single time a message is sent, but how? I thought I could use electrical signals and rotors, but it's not enough!"

Page 6

Petra pondered, tapping her chin. "Didn't Alan Turing later improve the machine's security?" she asked. Scherbius blinked. "Alan who? Never heard of him.
Petra pondered, tapping her chin. "Didn't Alan Turing later improve the machine's security?" she asked. Scherbius blinked. "Alan who? Never heard of him. But...you're right. It needs to be more complex. Maybe... if I added more rotors, and made each rotor change the electrical pathway after each letter is typed..." His eyes widened. "It might just work!" He scribbled furiously in his notebook, drawing diagrams of the new rotor system.

Petra pondered, tapping her chin. "Didn't Alan Turing later improve the machine's security?" she asked. Scherbius blinked. "Alan who? Never heard of him. But...you're right. It needs to be more complex. Maybe... if I added more rotors, and made each rotor change the electrical pathway after each letter is typed..." His eyes widened. "It might just work!" He scribbled furiously in his notebook, drawing diagrams of the new rotor system.

Page 7

"That's it!" Scherbius exclaimed hours later, wiping sweat from his brow. He had added two more rotors to the machine, creating millions of possible code…
"That's it!" Scherbius exclaimed hours later, wiping sweat from his brow. He had added two more rotors to the machine, creating millions of possible code combinations. "Now, each letter will be encrypted in a completely different way!" He typed a message: "Das ist streng geheim!" The machine whirred and clicked, outputting a jumbled series of letters. "Amazing!" Adaeze cheered. "But what about the people who need to decode it?"

"That's it!" Scherbius exclaimed hours later, wiping sweat from his brow. He had added two more rotors to the machine, creating millions of possible code combinations. "Now, each letter will be encrypted in a completely different way!" He typed a message: "Das ist streng geheim!" The machine whirred and clicked, outputting a jumbled series of letters. "Amazing!" Adaeze cheered. "But what about the people who need to decode it?"

Page 8

Scherbius smiled. "The recipient needs another Enigma machine, set up with the same rotor positions. They type in the coded message, and voila!
Scherbius smiled. "The recipient needs another Enigma machine, set up with the same rotor positions. They type in the coded message, and voila! It decodes itself." But success was short-lived. Soon, many experts were working to decode messages, even with the Enigma's complexity. Adaeze thought of a quote. "'I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones,' Einstein said. We need to help change the future."

Scherbius smiled. "The recipient needs another Enigma machine, set up with the same rotor positions. They type in the coded message, and voila! It decodes itself." But success was short-lived. Soon, many experts were working to decode messages, even with the Enigma's complexity. Adaeze thought of a quote. "'I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones,' Einstein said. We need to help change the future."

Page 9

Back in Adaeze's bedroom, the encyclopedia glowed softly. "Wow," Adaeze said, closing the book. "The Enigma Machine was a really powerful invention, but it also…
Back in Adaeze's bedroom, the encyclopedia glowed softly. "Wow," Adaeze said, closing the book. "The Enigma Machine was a really powerful invention, but it also shows how important it is to use technology for good." Petra nodded. "Indeed. And it reminds us that even the most complex codes can be broken, and that teamwork is everything."

Back in Adaeze's bedroom, the encyclopedia glowed softly. "Wow," Adaeze said, closing the book. "The Enigma Machine was a really powerful invention, but it also shows how important it is to use technology for good." Petra nodded. "Indeed. And it reminds us that even the most complex codes can be broken, and that teamwork is everything."

Page 10

Suddenly, Atlas appeared at the tent's entrance. "Adaeze! Petra!" he shouted. "A meteor just landed right near the popcorn stand! It's amazing!" Adaeze grinned.
Suddenly, Atlas appeared at the tent's entrance. "Adaeze! Petra!" he shouted. "A meteor just landed right near the popcorn stand! It's amazing!" Adaeze grinned. "Well," she said, grabbing her notebook, "some mysteries are best solved with friends... and maybe a little bit of shimmering popcorn!" As they walked towards the meteor site, Adaeze pondered the Enigma's story: Today, the encryption industry is worth more than 250 billion a year, all building on this historical…

Suddenly, Atlas appeared at the tent's entrance. "Adaeze! Petra!" he shouted. "A meteor just landed right near the popcorn stand! It's amazing!" Adaeze grinned. "Well," she said, grabbing her notebook, "some mysteries are best solved with friends... and maybe a little bit of shimmering popcorn!" As they walked towards the meteor site, Adaeze pondered the Enigma's story: Today, the encryption industry is worth more than 250 billion a year, all building on this historical breakthrough.

About this story

  • Audience: kids (ages 6–12)

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