About

Born in 1905 in Poland, Rejewski developed an interest in mathematics from a young age and went on to study the subject at the University of Poznan. In the late 1920s, he joined the Polish Cipher Bureau, where he was tasked with decrypting messages encrypted by the German Enigma machine. Rejewski, along with fellow mathematicians Jerzy Rozycki and Henryk Zygalski, worked tirelessly to find a solution to this complex cipher. In 1932, Rejewski made a breakthrough and successfully deduced the structure and wiring of the Enigma machine. Rejewski's discovery allowed the Polish Cipher Bureau to decrypt German Enigma messages throughout the 1930s, providing vital intelligence to the Polish government and their allies. However, as the Enigma machine continued to evolve, the Poles faced increasing difficulties in deciphering its messages. With the outbreak of World War II, Rejewski and his colleagues shared their findings with the British authorities, providing them with valuable insights into the German Enigma system. This collaboration later paved the way for the establishment of the British code-breaking operation at Bletchley Park. Despite his invaluable contributions, Rejewski's role remained largely unknown until after the war, as the British maintained a policy of secrecy regarding their code-breaking efforts. After the war, he returned to academia and continued his work in mathematics, although not directly involved in cryptography. Marian Rejewski's groundbreaking efforts in deciphering the Enigma machine played a significant role in Allied victory during World War II, as it allowed the Allies to decrypt German messages and gain crucial insights into their military plans and strategies. His work remains an important part of the history of cryptography and code-breaking.