Ultra (cryptography)
Also known as: ULTRA program
- 1Ultra was the designation for signals intelligence obtained by breaking high-level enemy codes.
- 2The intelligence was processed at the Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park.
- 3The term was adopted in June 1941 to denote information of extreme importance.
- 4It became the standard designation for such intelligence among the western Allies.
Ultra was the designation adopted by British military intelligence in June 1941 for wartime signals intelligence obtained by breaking high-level encrypted enemy radio and teleprinter communications at the Government Code and Cypher School (GC&CS) at Bletchley Park.
Connections2
provided verification for the system's success
Ultra intercepts allowed the British to read German communications, confirming that the Abwehr believed the false information provided by the Double-Cross agents.
intelligence source confirming the success of the deception
Allied codebreakers used Ultra to intercept German communications, allowing them to verify that the Germans had fallen for the Fortitude deception and were moving troops accordingly.
Ultra was the official designation adopted by British military intelligence in June 1941 to categorize signals intelligence derived from decrypted enemy communications. This intelligence was produced by the Government Code and Cypher School (GC&CS) located at Bletchley Park, where experts broke high-level encrypted radio and teleprinter transmissions.
A typical Bletchley intercept sheet, after decryptionWikimedia Commons: File:Bletchley_decrypt.jpgA typical Bletchley intercept sheet, before decryption and translationWikimedia Commons: File:Typical_Bletchley_intercept_sheet.jpgEnigma machine out of its wooden boxWikimedia Commons: File:EnigmaMachine_Warzawa.jpg The term originated from the classification Ultra Secret, which indicated that the information was of higher importance than the highest existing British security level. Over time, Ultra became the standard term used by the western Allies to describe this vital intelligence, which played a decisive role in the outcome of the war by providing insights into enemy plans and movements.