1917 Zimmermann Telegram Decrypted With Single Python Script; Historians: 'Should’ve Used HTTPS'

In 2018, an article on Medium revisited the historic event of breaking the Zimmermann Telegram, a coded message sent by German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmermann in 1917. The telegram, intercepted by British intelligence, proposed an alliance between Germany and Mexico in the event of the United States entering World War I. British codebreakers, led by Nigel de Grey, deciphered the message, which was then passed on to the US government, contributing to the country's decision to declare war on Germany. The decryption process involved complex cryptographic techniques, including frequency analysis and codebook substitution. The event marked a significant milestone in the history of cryptography and intelligence gathering, demonstrating the importance of codebreaking in shaping global events. The Zimmermann Telegram's decryption is still studied today as a prime example of cryptographic analysis, with implications for modern cybersecurity and intelligence agencies, including the UK's Government Communications Headquarters and the US National Security Agency.