What was the Enigma Code?

The Enigma code served as a crucial encryption method for the German military during WWII. This complex code was initially deciphered by Polish mathematician Marian Rejewski in the early 1930s using a device known as The Bombe. Shortly after this breakthrough, Adolf Hitler ascended to the role of Chancellor of Germany. In light of the growing threat from Germany, Poland cooperated with France and Britain, sharing insights about the Enigma code.

During the war, Alan Turing created his own machine, named Victory, at Bletchley Park in the UK, aimed specifically at cracking the Enigma code. The team at Bletchley Park relied on this decryption method to anticipate German military plans daily. Turing's contributions are believed to have saved countless lives and potentially shortened the war by up to two years. Undoubtedly, he was a hero, but it’s essential to recognize the full spectrum of his identity.

Cinematic Representations and Historical Accuracy

Many people have become familiar with Turing through films like The Imitation Game (2014), featuring Benedict Cumberbatch. Turing was educated in mathematics at King’s College and the University of Cambridge before earning his PhD in logic and number theory at Princeton in 1938, boasting an IQ of 180.

Although The Imitation Game provides insight into Turing's significant role in WWII and the development of modern computing, it does contain inaccuracies. For instance, the machine he constructed at Bletchley Park was not named Christopher after a friend, but rather Victory. Furthermore, Turing never encountered the Moscow spy John Cairncross, and most of his colleagues worked independently without meeting one another. Nonetheless, the film effectively highlights Turing's critical role in deciphering German codes, enabling the Allies to understand Nazi strategies.

The Struggles of Being Gay in Historical Britain

During Turing's time, homosexuality was criminalized in Britain. To protect himself, Turing proposed marriage to Joan Clarke, a colleague at Bletchley Park, even though he disclosed his sexual orientation to her, and she appeared accepting. However, he ultimately opted against the marriage.

Turing's upbringing saw him sent to boarding school in England while his parents traveled abroad. In his teenage years, he developed a deep connection with Christopher Morcom, a boy with whom he shared a passion for mathematics and science. Unfortunately, Morcom was not gay, leading to Turing's first experience of unrequited love. The tragic death of Morcom from tuberculosis at the age of 19 had a profound impact on Turing, who later remarked, “In a very real sense, he was the sort of person I had been looking for without knowing it.”

The Historical Context of Homosexuality Laws

In 1533, the Buggery Act was enacted during King Henry VIII's reign, imposing the death penalty for such offenses.

It wasn't until 1861 that the death penalty for sodomy was abolished, yet it remained a ten-year prison sentence. Even a simple letter expressing affection between two men could lead to prosecution. It wasn't until 1967 that same-sex acts in private between men over the age of 21 were decriminalized, but tragically, Alan Turing was no longer alive to witness this change.

Alan Turing's Tragic Fate

The British government was unaware of Turing's sexual orientation during WWII; had they known, he likely would not have been appointed as a chief mathematician at Bletchley Park. Until 1991, there was a prohibition against gay individuals serving in MI5 and MI6.

In 1952, Turing faced charges of “gross indecency,” which led to the revocation of his security clearance. He was subjected to hormone treatments aimed at chemical castration, and he died a year after these treatments at the age of 41. The coroner ruled his death as a probable suicide by cyanide poisoning. Turing had cyanide in his laboratory, so his death could have been intentional, accidental, or even a homicide—an uncertainty that lingers to this day. His housekeeper discovered his body.

In 2013, Queen Elizabeth II granted Alan Turing a posthumous royal pardon, acknowledging the injustices he faced.