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The Secret in Building 26: The Untold Story of America's Ultra War Against the U-boat Enigma Codes Hardcover – April 20, 2004

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 32 ratings

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For the first time, the inside story of the brilliant American engineer who defeated Enigma and the Nazi code-masters

Much has been written about the success of the British “Ultra” program in cracking the Germans’ Enigma code early in World War II, but few know what really happened in 1942, when the Germans added a fourth rotor to the machine that created the already challenging naval code and plunged Allied intelligence into darkness.

Enter one Joe Desch, an unassuming but brilliant engineer at the National Cash Register Company in Dayton, Ohio, who was given the task of creating a machine to break the new Enigma settings. It was an enterprise that rivaled the Manhattan Project for secrecy and complexity–and nearly drove Desch to a breakdown. Under enormous pressure, he succeeded in creating a 5,000-pound electromechanical monster known as the Desch Bombe, which helped turn the tide in the Battle of the Atlantic–but not before a disgruntled co-worker attempted to leak information about the machine to the Nazis.

After toiling anonymously–it even took his daughter years to learn of his accomplishments–Desch was awarded the National Medal of Merit, the country’s highest civilian honor. In
The Secret in Building 26, the entire thrilling story of the final triumph over Enigma is finally told.


From the Trade Paperback edition.
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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The Ultra secret (Allied decryption of German messages during World War II) has produced a growing body of literature since it was revealed 30 years ago, indicative not only of steady interest in the topic but also of the fact that it still retains its own secrets. DeBrosse and Burke benefit from the former, and make fascinating disclosures of the latter, in their account of the machines, called "bombes," that broke the German encryption tool, Enigma. Due to wartime exigencies, the construction of bombes, first built by the British, shifted to the NCR Company in Dayton, Ohio. On the technical side, the authors detail problems in building them and the ensuing strain placed on NCR's man in charge. On the intelligence side, DeBrosse and Burke dramatically recount a crisis generated by a complication added to Enigma in 1942 that, for the moment, thwarted Ultra and gained U-boats the upper hand. In addition to narrating NCR's literal life-and-death performance, the authors uncover an espionage affair within company ranks. This is an important new angle on Ultra. Gilbert Taylor
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

“A well-documented, objective account . . . It needs to be read . . . by those who want to understand the indispensable role of information technology in modern warfare.”
–The Washington Post Book World



From the Trade Paperback edition.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Random House; First Edition (April 20, 2004)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0375508074
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0375508073
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.3 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.35 x 0.99 x 9.51 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 32 ratings

About the author

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Jim DeBrosse
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Jim DeBrosse is a veteran journalist and author of four books, including three novels in the Rick Decker mystery series, and a work of historical non-fiction, "The Secret in Building 26," about U.S. efforts to break the Enigma code during World War II. He is currently a visiting assistant professor of journalism at Miami University of Ohio.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
32 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the story interesting and compelling. They describe the book as an excellent read with a quick pace and new material about the subject. Readers appreciate the human intellect and insights into engineering work at its heart. The book is well-researched and written, providing great new information about the subject.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

9 customers mention "Story quality"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the story interesting and compelling. They describe it as well-written and an interesting piece of history. However, some readers felt the writing was poorly done and the book was dull to read.

"The story of the Enigma and the efforts to decode it are so enthralling, you couldn't write a better piece of fiction...." Read more

"An interesting and well written book...." Read more

"...It is a pretty amazing story at that, which addresses all aspects of the World War II era, both at home and on the battle front...." Read more

"...Nevertheless the story is interesting, perhaps even compelling, for anyone connected with NCR Dayton, and all the more so if you are also a WWII..." Read more

7 customers mention "Readability"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find it an excellent read, with a quick pace and new material about WWII.

"This is an excellent book. Very well researched and written...." Read more

"I'm a CYPHER geek!! This is a great book. Stuff that I had never come across before...." Read more

"Excellent read...." Read more

"I really enjoyed it, quick pace and alot of new material about the subject.I highly recomend it to anyone interested in the enigma machine." Read more

6 customers mention "Intelligence"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book informative and well-researched. They appreciate the insights into engineering work and the authors' portrayal of the stakes and urgency of the decryption projects.

"...The authors do a great job of describing the stakes and urgency of the decryption projects. This was the proverbial lunar landing of World War II...." Read more

"This is an excellent book. Very well researched and written...." Read more

"Very interesting. Always wanted to know more about the secret! This was a used book but arrived like new. Thanks!" Read more

"I really enjoyed it, quick pace and alot of new material about the subject.I highly recomend it to anyone interested in the enigma machine." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2020
    The story of the Enigma and the efforts to decode it are so enthralling, you couldn't write a better piece of fiction. The authors do a great job of describing the stakes and urgency of the decryption projects. This was the proverbial lunar landing of World War II. Engineers and cryptographers used the latest technology available, (vacuum tubes; crude by todays standards) to crack the wickedly complex cypher of enigma.

    To put this feat into perspective, the authors claims there are more enigma combinations possible, than there are atoms in our solar system.

    Rather than a dry, technical manual, DeBrosse and Burke, portray the mathematicians, staff, and brainiacs involved, as complex and dedicated people. The power of this story cannot be overstated. Much more than a WWII history, this epic is a tribute to the uncredited heroes that destroyed the U-boats' grip on the Atlantic. Not with ships or guns, but with the might of hungry minds and human intellect.
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2015
    This is an excellent book. Very well researched and written. Bletchley Park gets all the attention and yes, they had a major part throughout the entire war since they could break the German Army and Air Force Enigma codes.....but when it comes to the Navy Enigma codes.....it's DAYTON, OHIO USA, the US Navy, NCR with Joseph Desch that should get a big credit. This book is recommended to complement your library of books regarding Bletchley Park, as it has done for mine.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2024
    The book was exactly as described and arrived very quickly with a friendly note from the seller. Would definitely buy from them again!
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2011
    An interesting and well written book. This story covers a little known chapter of the history of World War II and America's part in solving the German code problem. While the British developed the procedures, America was able to create better and faster decoding equipment that assisted both countries in solving the problem.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2015
    With the current popularity of the Imitation Game about Alan Turing and the WWII codebreakers the Dayton Daily News ran an article speculating as to whether Joe Desch of Dayton and NCR fame would finally get his due. Actually, it was a rhetorical question, but the article mentioned the book The Secret in Building 26: The Untold Story of America's Ultra War Against the U-Boat Enigma Codes which more than gives Joe Desch his due. He took his war time secret to the grave but thankfully his grandson and his daughter developed a burning curiosity. It is a pretty amazing story at that, which addresses all aspects of the World War II era, both at home and on the battle front. Many say second only to the development of the atomic bomb in ending the war. One has to just shake their head and marvel at such a fantastic story. You will not be disappointed.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2019
    I'm a CYPHER geek!! This is a great book. Stuff that I had never come across before. If you are into Enigma or Purple or Ultra from WWII, you need to have this book on your TS shelf!!
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2013
    I worked in Building 26 at NCR Corp, in Dayton, OH for several years, long after the events of this narrative took place. I always knew there had been some kind of super-secret activity in the building during WWII but never knew the details until reading this book. Subsequent research has suggested to me that the author applied a little bit of sugar-coating to the end results of the Enigma code-breaking activity described in the story. Nevertheless the story is interesting, perhaps even compelling, for anyone connected with NCR Dayton, and all the more so if you are also a WWII submarine buff who thought code-breakers at Bletchley Park in the UK were the only folks trying to crack the U-boat Enigma codes.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2020
    You've heard of Bletchley Park and Alan Turing but with this book you'll learn that the most important code breaking was done at NCR in the US by Joe Desch. If you like enlightening history, you'll love this!