William F. Friedman and Elizebeth Smith Friedman. Photo: National Cryptologic Museum Collection.
Elizebeth Smith Friedman was a pioneering cryptanalyst whose work during World War II was instrumental in breaking enemy codes and uncovering spy rings. Born on August 26, 1892, in Huntington, Indiana, she became known as “America’s first female cryptanalyst.”
Elizebeth graduated from Hillsdale College in Michigan with a major in English literature in 1915. Her interest in languages led her to study Latin, Greek, and German, among other subjects. She later received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Hillsdale in 1938.
In 1916, Elizebeth began working at Riverbank Laboratories in Geneva, Illinois, one of the first facilities in the U.S. dedicated to the study of cryptography. She was hired by Colonel George Fabyan, a wealthy textile merchant, to assist in proving that Sir Francis Bacon wrote Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets. It was here that she met and married William F. Friedman, a plant biologist who also became involved in the project.
World War I and Prohibition Era
During World War I, Riverbank Laboratories became one of the first significant codebreaking hubs in the United States. Their work there was primarily focused on cracking the codes and ciphers used by enemy forces to secure their communications. The couple’s groundbreaking methods in codebreaking laid the groundwork for future advancements in cryptanalysis. They developed techniques that would become the cornerstone of modern cryptology, using statistical analysis to break complex ciphers. Their contributions were instrumental in the U.S. government’s ability to intercept and decipher enemy communications, which provided valuable intelligence that shaped the course of the war.
After World War I, Elizebeth continued her work in cryptography, but her focus shifted to a new battlefield: the fight against organized crime during the Prohibition Era. The Volstead Act, which prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcoholic beverages, led to a surge in illegal activities. Smugglers, also known as rumrunners, used coded messages to coordinate their operations and evade law enforcement.
Elizebeth was recruited by the U.S. Coast Guard Intelligence Division to tackle this new challenge. Her exceptional skills in codebreaking were put to use in deciphering the encrypted communications of rumrunners. She meticulously analyzed and broke the codes used by various smuggling networks, which helped to unravel their operations. Her work led to the arrest and conviction of numerous criminals involved in smuggling activities. One notable case was her role in dismantling the operations of the Consolidated Exporters Corporation, a powerful rum-running syndicate. Her codebreaking efforts provided crucial evidence that allowed law enforcement to bring down this criminal organization.
Elizebeth’s contributions during the Prohibition Era were groundbreaking and showcased her exceptional skills in cryptography. Her work not only helped to enforce the law but also set a precedent for the use of cryptographic techniques in law enforcement. Her ability to crack complex codes and ciphers earned her a reputation as one of the leading cryptanalysts of her time. Elizebeth’s work during these years demonstrated her versatility and adaptability, as she transitioned from military codebreaking to tackling organized crime.
World War II Contributions
Elizebeth’s work during World War II was crucial in breaking the codes of Nazi spies operating in various regions, including Latin America. Her efforts were part of a larger intelligence operation aimed at disrupting enemy espionage and protecting Allied interests. In March 1942, Elizebeth made a significant discovery: Nazi spies had located a large Allied troopship, the RMS Queen Mary. This information was critical, as the RMS Queen Mary was a vital part of the Allied troop transport efforts. By breaking the codes used by the Nazi spies, Elizebeth was able to provide intelligence that helped protect the ship and other Allied vessels from potential attacks.
Elizebeth’s codebreaking skills were instrumental in dismantling several Nazi spy rings in Latin America. Her work provided the U.S. government with valuable information about the operations and communications of these spy networks. This intelligence allowed the Allies to take preemptive action, disrupting the enemy’s plans and preventing further espionage activities.
Elizebeth worked closely with various U.S. intelligence agencies, including the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the precursor to the CIA. The OSS was established during World War II to coordinate espionage activities behind enemy lines for the branches of the United States Armed Forces.
She provided recommendations to William Donovan when he was Director of the Office of the Coordinator of Information (COI), which later became the OSS. Elizebeth’s expertise in cryptanalysis was highly valued by the OSS. She played a key role in training new cryptanalysts, sharing her extensive knowledge and techniques with the next generation of codebreakers. Her work helped to develop advanced codebreaking techniques, including the use of statistical methods to decipher complex enemy codes.
One of her significant contributions was in the realm of signals intelligence. Elizebeth’s ability to intercept and decrypt enemy communications provided the OSS with critical intelligence on enemy movements and plans. Her work was essential in uncovering Nazi spy networks in South America, which posed a threat to Allied operations.
In addition to her codebreaking efforts, Elizebeth’s collaboration with the OSS involved the creation and refinement of secure communication systems for Allied forces. This ensured that sensitive information could be transmitted without interception by enemy forces.
Elizebeth’s contributions helped to establish the foundation for modern cryptology and intelligence operations. Her work with the OSS not only provided immediate wartime benefits but also paved the way for the development of cryptographic practices used by the CIA and other intelligence agencies in the post-war era.
Elizebeth’s work during World War II earned her widespread recognition and respect within the intelligence community. Although much of her work was kept secret at the time, her contributions have since been acknowledged as vital to the war effort. She was featured in several publications, including Look magazine and Reader’s Digest, highlighting her remarkable achievements.
Legacy
Elizebeth Smith Friedman’s legacy as a pioneering cryptanalyst continues to inspire future generations of codebreakers and intelligence professionals. Her work laid the foundation for modern cryptology and codebreaking. Her contributions were kept secret for many years, but they have since been recognized as vital to the war effort. She passed away on October 31, 1980, leaving behind a legacy of groundbreaking achievements in the field of cryptography.
Resources
National Cryptologic Museum
www.nsa.gov/museum
National Security Agency
NSA.gov
Central Intelligence Agency
CIA.gov