There are few technologies that the allied states can produce against Nazi Germany, which has a powerful technology and threatens the world during its rule. Today, we are the guests of one of those technologies, the Colossus Computer.
The Colossus Computer is the world’s first partially programmable digital computer, built in 1943 to decode encrypted messages produced by the German Army with Enigma during the Second World War Era. Enigma is not a programmable computer. There are also those who describe Enigma as just a decryption machine.
Initial production and development of Colossus:
The Colossus was designed by Tommy Flowers in 1943 to decrypt the Nazis’ encrypted messages. Until this date, the Allies could not decipher the Nazis’ messages and had to always follow the Nazis at least one step behind.
In 1944, the Colossus, which had many shortcomings, was developed by Alan Turing and made completely ready under the name Colossus Mark I. But after the Nazis learned that they had cracked the Allies’ encryption systems, Lorenz developed the SZ 40/42 device. In a very short time, Alan Turing’s team responded to this move of the Nazis with Colossus Mark II and completely blocked the communication of the Nazis.
The decision that the idea behind Colossus should be kept
A total of 10 Colossus Computers were produced during the war period. At the end of the war, the Colossus, which successfully completed its mission, was taken to the warehouse by the order of President Winston Churchill and kept there. The reason for this decision; It was to prevent the use of this technology, which was very advanced for its period, by other states.
Compared to computers with pentium processors produced years after Colossus, even when the speed of Colossus is compared, it has been determined that Colossus is 2 times faster. If Churchill had not instructed to hide this technology, we would have had more advanced computers earlier today.
Colossus Computer in the Art World
The story of Alan Turing and the Colossus was told in the Oscar-winning movie The Imitation Game. Those who wish are recommended to watch The Imitation Game.
But have you heard of the Colossus Computer that changed the course of history before? What do you think of the Colossus Computer?
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