The public disclosure of Anglo-American signals intelligence since the Second World War, with particular reference to Ultra and Magic
The puzzling absence of signals intelligence (SIGINT) from the historiography of World War II for nearly three decades continues to reverberate for historians. This thesis aims to explain how and why SIGINT was protected from public disclosure during and after the war, how it became public in 1974, and how WWII historiography has evolved as a consequence of these revelations. Drawing on a vast range of published sources, interviews and recently available archival and electronic-database material, this thesis is comprised of five chapters. With a brief overview of important precedents, the first chapter traces Pacific theatre SIGINT disclosures from WWII through its early and detailed, although not complete, disclosure during the Pearl Harbour hearings and beyond. The second chapter examines how and why the Ultra secret was kept, despite the belief of the gatekeepers that it would soon be discovered by historians analysing operational details and battlefield decisions. The third chapter reviews chronologically the not insignificant Ultra-related disclosures that went unnoticed by historians prior to the publication of F. W. Winterbothamâs <i>The Ultra secret </i>in 1974. The fourth chapter presents the most
Anderson, R. M.
The public disclosure of Anglo-American signals intelligence since the Second World War, with particular reference to Ultra and Magic. The puzzling absence of signals intelligence (SIGINT) from the historiography of World War II for nearly three decades continues to reverberate for historians. This thesis aims to explain how and why SIGINT was protected from public disclosure during and after the war, how it became public in 1974, and how WWII historiography has evolved as a consequence of these revelations. Drawing on a vast range of published sources, interviews and recently available archival and electronic-database material, this thesis is comprised of five chapters. With a brief overview of important precedents, the first chapter traces Pacific theatre SIGINT disclosures from WWII through its early and detailed, although not complete, disclosure during the Pearl Harbour hearings and beyond. The second chapter examines how and why the Ultra secret was kept, despite the belief of the gatekeepers that it would soon be discovered by historians analysing operational details and battlefield decisions. The third chapter reviews chronologically the not insignificant Ultra-related disclosures that went unnoticed by historians prior to the publication of F. W. Winterbothamâs <i>The Ultra secret </i>in 1974. The fourth chapter presents the most
public disclosure anglo_american signal intelligence since_second_world_war particular_reference magic puzzle absence signal intelligence historiography world_war_ii continue reverberate historian aim explain protect public disclosure war become public wwii historiography evolve consequence revelation drawing vast range publish_source interview recently available archival electronic database material comprise five_chapter brief_overview important precedent first trace theatre disclosure wwii early detail although complete disclosure harbour hearing beyond second_examines secret despite belief would soon discover historian analyse operational detail battlefield decision third review chronologically insignificant related disclosure unnoticed historian prior publication secret fourth present