Abwehr Enigma G312

Heimsoeth und Rinke built G312 around 1940 for the Abwehr. GCHQ lent it to the Bletchley Park museum, where on 1 April 2000 it was taken from a display case in the Mansion in daylight. That September a letter signed 'the Master' demanded £25,000 and threatened to destroy the machine; the deadline passed without contact. Two weeks later the machine arrived at the BBC addressed to the journalist Jeremy Paxman, without its three rotors, which were returned later. In November 2000 police arrested a dealer who was later sentenced to ten months' imprisonment. After the theft the insurers required the machine to be kept in a safe rather than on display.

1. c. 1940

   Made by Heimsoeth und Rinke for the AbwehrB

2. 1 April 2000

   Stolen from a display case in the MansionB

3. October 2000

   Posted to Jeremy Paxman at the BBCB

   Without its three rotors, which were returned later.

4. Date not recorded

   Lent by GCHQ to the Bletchley Park museumB

Associated with · 2000

Jeremy PaxmanB

Used at

World War IIAmedium confidence

Used by · c. 1940–1945

AbwehrB

Owned by

GCHQB

Exhibited at

Bletchley ParkB

1. A

   Wikipedia, 'Enigma machine'

   ↗ View original record
2. B

   Crypto Museum, 'Enigma G312'

   ↗ View original record