At a glanceKnown key applied · 9 decrypted, 3 partly, 10 open of 22 messages
- The list
- James Rives Childs’s transcript of German ADFGVX traffic of 1918. Lasry’s 2017 attack broke 618 cryptograms under fourteen keys; 22 messages did not decrypt and were published as an unsolved list.
- The cipher
- ADFGVX with a columnar transposition. One lost or added letter moves every column boundary after it, so a garbled message fails even under the right key.
- How it was tried
- The 2017 comment-thread decryptions are gathered in one table. Norbert’s method (two block edits of up to five letters against a known key) is reimplemented with a German language model and re-derives the solved pages without their plaintext.
- What was added
- The list should read “22 messages, 9 decrypted, 3 partly decrypted, 10 open”, and the key Lasry recovered in the thread belongs with the published fourteen.
- Still open
- The ten open messages: no result with any of the fifteen keys, and a key-free attack cannot recover the transposition at these lengths, even on a planted control. They need the Childs originals or a key not in the corpus.
- Credit
- Lasry, Niebel, Kopal and Wacker (2017); Norbert Biermann, Armin, Thomas, Max Baertl and Lasry in the thread.
01 What the list is
James Rives Childs, the American cryptanalyst attached to the French in 1918, kept a transcript of German ADFGVX traffic intercepted on the Eastern Front. In 2017 George Lasry, Ingo Niebel, Nils Kopal and Arno Wacker broke the corpus with a hill-climbing attack on the transposition and recovered 618 cryptograms under fourteen three-day keys, from September to December 1918. Lasry then gave Klaus Schmeh a list of the messages that would not decrypt under any of those keys, and Schmeh published it as “Unsolved ADFGVX messages from World War I”, with the keys attached, and later as no. 46 on his Top 50.
Lasry’s own note on that page says what the problem is: the keys are “most certainly all the keys used during the period”, so “the challenge is to understand how the cryptograms were mutilated”. ADFGVX is unforgiving about length. The columnar transposition splits the letter stream by the key length, so one lost or added letter moves every column boundary after it and turns the rest of the message into noise. A message with two garbles is no longer decryptable by the key, even though the key is known.
Between February and September 2017 the comment thread under the post did most of the work. Norbert Biermann, Armin, Thomas, Max Baertl and Lasry himself decrypted message after message. Schmeh announced a consolidating article and never wrote it, so those decryptions existed only as scattered comments, and no table of the results was found in print or online. The first thing this write-up does is publish that table.
02 The keys, made machine-readable
Lasry’s list gives each key as a transposition permutation and a 36-character substitution square, the cells in row order of A D F G V X. Three of the fourteen squares contain runs of hyphens for cells never recovered, and the text layer of the PDF collapses those runs into en- and em-dashes, leaving squares of 34 or 35 characters. Expanding each dash back to the run length that makes 36 repairs all three. All fourteen are in keys.json.
The key numbers admit two interpretations. Either perm[i] is the column emitted i-th, or it is the position at which column i is emitted. Both round-trip self-consistently, so an encrypt-decrypt test cannot tell them apart. Decrypting a real message can. It is the second.
The key not on the list
On 3 May 2017 Lasry reported in the thread that a two-part message, the FFVXV cryptogram of 13 November and the AFAFF fragment that continues it, decrypted jointly under a key that was in none of the fourteen periods: transposition word CMBLAKOHIDENFJGP, length 16. He gave the joint plaintext, 173 letters, and noted that his program had needed all 356 ciphertext letters to recover a length-16 key. The substitution square was not published. It is rebuilt here by aligning the untransposed bigrams of the two cryptograms with his plaintext, Norbert’s corrections applied: 24 of 36 cells, with the digits and the letters M, Q and Y unrecovered because the message never uses them. It is the fifteenth entry in keys.json and the repo’s notes call it the CHI key, after the header of the message it enciphered.
03 The 2017 results in one table
All 70 comments of the thread were gone through. Page numbers are Childs’s transcript pages as Schmeh printed them; two messages carry no page number on the list. Letter counts are of the received ciphertext, with the gaps marked in the printed transcription counted separately. Each decryption is credited to the person who first posted it.
| Childs page | letters | status | key | reading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 73 | 176 + 2 gaps | open | none fits | — |
| 100 | 122 | solved | Nov 1–3 | KEINE STOERUNG DURCH FEIND X MITTAGS 2 FEINDL X DIV X IM MARSCH AUF BELGRAD X (Armin) |
| 105 | 290 | solved | Nov 1–3 | GERMANIA ETAPPE KONSTANTINOPEL XX FUER MITTELMEER DIVISION ZU X TEL X NR X 62 X DIV X TELEGR X NR X 58 X ERSTELLT … VOM X 4 X NOVEMBER ERLEDIGT X ADMIRALSTAB (Norbert) |
| 109 | 258 | solved | Nov 1–3 | O X K X M X ABENDMELDUNG … UNTERBRINGUNG LETZTER TEILE BEENDET X 1 WEITERER DU X DIV 5 IM MARSCH AUF BELGRADER KAVV X 2 X SONST KEINE EREIGNISSE (Norbert) |
| 132 | 153 + gap | solved | Nov 4–6 | FUER EILVESE X WIEDERHOLE TELEGR X VON VIERTER PERIODE IN FUENFTER X GEBETSORDER 5 MIN X VVV. The encipherer wrote VVV for VV, hence the odd length (Norbert) |
| 146 | 244 | solved | Nov 4–6 | FUNKSTELLE KERTSCH ER HAT BETRIEB X 1F X RUFNAMEN RICHARD EMIL KARL X FUNKSTELLEN DORTIGEN BEREICHS BENACHRICHTIGEN X NACHRICHTENCHEF 4B X 7834 X (Norbert) |
| 152 | 104 | open | none fits | — |
| 153 (VFVAX) | 132 | open | none fits, CHI key included | — |
| 153 (AXVAA) | 93 + 15 gaps | open | none fits, CHI key included | — |
| 158 | 240 + 2 gaps | open | none fits | — |
| 164 (F-G-X) | 158 + 44 gaps | partial | Nov 7–9 | … X 9 X 11 X TEMESVAR X … DIE VON X MIRCO NACH WESTEN UND SUEDEN WEG X LEIDER WEGE VOM GEGNER BESETZT X (Norbert) |
| 164 (VFGAG) | 136 + 44 gaps | partial | Nov 7–9 | EL X DIE HOEHE X 828 X O X H X L X MIRCO X SONST KEINE EREIGNISSE VON BEDEUTUNG XX (Norbert) |
| 170 | 106 | open | none fits | — |
| 171 | 310 + 4 gaps | solved | Nov 7–9 | IN UKRAINE UND POLEN RUBELKURSE STARK STEIGEND INFOLGE BRUCHES ZWISCHEN DEUTSCHLAND UND SOWJETREGIERUNG UND ERWARTUNG DER WIEDERHERSTELLUNG RUSSLANDS DURCH DEUTSCHLAND UND ENTENTE (Norbert) |
| 176 (“missing 10 letters”) | 214 | solved | Nov 10–12 | DURCHBRUCH VORBEREITET X DURCHBRUCHSRICHTUNG NACH NORDEN ODER NORDOSTEN ERFOLGEN WIRD X KANN JETZT NOCH NICHT BEURTEILT WERDEN X (Norbert) |
| 176 (GGDAA) | 220 | open | none fits | — |
| no page (VGADA; Childs p. 215, 22 Nov) | 237 + 11 gaps | partial | Nov 22–24 | ABS X MIDIV 5 X EILMELDG … ARMADA KERTSCH X BRINGT ENTENTE FLOTTE ZWO DIVISIONEN X NEUSEELAENDER X ENGL X U X FRANZO X MIT X … OHL X KORPS … (Norbert, Baertl) |
| 187 (FFVXV; Childs p. 191, 13 Nov, part 1) | 212 | solved | CHI, 13 Nov | RUSSISCHEN UND POLN HEERESVERKEHR VOLL ERFASSEN X WICHTIGES BESONDERS AUS POLN VERKEHR UEBER OHL STATION VERZIFFERT FUNKEN (Lasry, Norbert) |
| no page (AFAFF; part 2) | 142 | solved | CHI, 13 Nov | SOWEIT FERNSCHREIBERVERBDG NICHT ARBEITET X REST SCHRIFTLICH X NACH CHEF (Lasry, Norbert) |
| 189 | 84 + 6 gaps | open | none fits | — |
| 198 | 165 | open | none fits | — |
| 217 (27 Nov) | 170 | solved | TRUPPENVERSCHIEBUNG (length 19) | EIN ENGLISCHER KREUZER EINLIEG X SEWASTOPOL X S4STEN X EIN GESCHWADER DER X ALLIIERTEN FOLGT 26STEN X (“prinz”, Sept 2026; verified here) |
Ten decrypted, three decrypted in part, nine with no decryption found anywhere. Page 217 was not decrypted in 2017. On 17 September 2026 “prinz” posted its decipherment under the transposition keyword TRUPPENVERSCHIEBUNG, a key Childs lists (pp. 214–215) for use from 9 December (reported by The Neuron, 18 September 2026). It was checked here as known plaintext: under that transposition the 170 received letters give 85 pairs, and the 85 letters of the reported text map onto them one to one (23 distinct pairs, 23 distinct letters, no conflict); the 23 recovered cells fall into a keyword-shaped square (T R U P E 4 / N · S C 2 H). The message says that a British cruiser has come into Sevastopol on the 24th and an Allied squadron follows on the 26th. The same key gives noise on the nine other open messages. Max Baertl’s 2017 text of VGADA (p. 215) was checked letter by letter against the cells: 97 of its 129 letters are carried, but 20 contradict the received cells, so it stays a partial decryption. One further transcript page, 187 as printed (SELLV…, “Stellv. Gen. Kom. 9 AK Breslau”), was a message the Kassel team had already solved and does not belong on the list; Lasry said so in the thread. The two CHI messages were listed as undecryptable under the published keys, which is true; they were decrypted after Lasry recovered a key that was not published.
04 One key at a time
The twenty-two messages are one filed list, but not one cipher key: ADFGVX changed its key every three days, and each message decrypts, or not, under its own. The result per key:
| key | messages (Childs pages) | decrypted | in part | open | who |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 Nov, length 19 | 100, 105, 109 | 3 | 0 | 0 | Armin, Norbert (2017); reproduced here |
| 4–6 Nov, length 17 | 132, 146 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Norbert (2017); reproduced here |
| 7–9 Nov | 171; 164 (F-G-X), 164 (VFGAG) | 1 | 2 | 0 | Norbert (2017); 171 reproduced here |
| 10–12 Nov | 176 (“missing 10 letters”) | 1 | 0 | 0 | Norbert (2017); reproduced here |
| CHI, 13 Nov (Lasry’s sixteenth key, length 16) | 187 (FFVXV), AFAFF | 2 | 0 | 0 | Lasry, Norbert (2017); square rebuilt and both reproduced here |
| 22–24 Nov | VGADA (Childs p. 215) | 0 | 1 | 0 | Norbert, Baertl (2017); the same partial found here |
| TRUPPENVERSCHIEBUNG, length 19 | 217 | 1 | 0 | 0 | “prinz” (Sept 2026); verified here as known plaintext |
| no known key fits | 73, 152, 153 (VFVAX), 153 (AXVAA), 158, 170, 176 (GGDAA), 189, 198 | 0 | 0 | 9 | not solved by anyone |
Five keys are complete for their messages, two are partial, and nine messages belong to no known key, so the entry as a whole is not complete.
05 Norbert’s method, reimplemented
Norbert stated his method in one sentence: add or remove up to five characters at two different positions, exhaustive search, an n-gram value function to rank the results. blocks.py does exactly that. For each of the fifteen keys, and each choice of up to two block edits of one to five letters, inserted or deleted at the five-letter group boundaries of the transcript, it decrypts and scores the result with a German quadgram model built from 3.6 million letters of Gutenberg German (lm_de.py). Windows that contain a digit or an unrecovered cell cost a floor; windows that cross an X separator cost less than junk and more than text. German prose scores about −3.3 nats per window on this model, and random letters about −7.
Given no hint of the plaintext, the search re-derives pages 105, 109, 146 and 171, the “missing 10 letters” message of page 176, and the two CHI messages. On page 146 the five-letter block that Norbert inserted before group 10 comes out as (45, 5). On the page-176 message the two five-letter blocks come out as (10, 5), (130, 5). Page 100 falls to the same search with one two-letter insertion. The search also finds the Nov 22–24 partial of the unnumbered VGADA message. Where the printed transcription marks gaps, gaps.py restores them to their groups and anneals the residual single-letter losses; on page 132 it lands on Norbert’s text unprompted.
The scores of the re-derived pages, from the run log, against the best any of the open messages achieves:
| page | key length | best score, nats per window | decrypt as returned by the search |
|---|---|---|---|
| 187 (CHI part 1) | 16 | −4.45 | RUSSISCHETUNDPOLNHEERESVERKEHRVOLLERFASSENXWICHTIGESBESONDERS… |
| 146 | 17 | −5.25 | FUNKSTELLEKERTSCHERHAE.TAB12X1.XRUFNAME.RICHARD.MILKARLX… |
| AFAFF (CHI part 2) | 16 | −5.28 | SOWEITFERNSCHREIBERVERBDGNITHTARBEICETXRESTSCHRIFTLICHXNACHCHEF… |
| 100 | 19 | −5.39 | KEI.ESTOERFNGDURCHFEINDXMITTAGS2FEINDLXDIVXIMMARSCHAUFBELGRAD. |
| 171 | 20 | −5.50 | INUKRAI.EUNDPOLEN.UBELKURSETARKSIEIGENDINFOLGEBRUCHEEZWISCHEN… |
| 105 | 19 | −6.02 | GERMANIAATAPPEKONSTANTINOPELX6FUERMITTJLMEERDIVISIVNZUXTELXNRX62… |
| 109 | 19 | −6.02 | OXFXMXABECDMELUNGXS4VCXUMBJRGABGLETZTEVTEILEBEEVUKTX1WEITEDE… |
| best open message (158, 170) | 20, 19 | −6.89 | noise |
The solved pages are recognisable German at a glance even where the block edit is not quite right, and the residual garbles are the single-letter losses that a second pass repairs. The 105 and 109 lines score lower than the others because the two-block search only approximates their mutilation; both texts are nevertheless legible in the raw output and both agree with Norbert’s 2017 decryptions.
06 The open messages, tested
Two block edits, fifteen keys
In September 2026, when page 217 was still open, every one of the ten was run against all fifteen keys with up to two block edits. The best result for each, from blocks_out.txt:
| page | letters | key length of best | best score | output |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 73 | 176 | 22 | −7.12 | DWR5C10WAXWBI.GWBXD1QGRA.R7OCW3Q… |
| 152 | 104 | 22 | −6.76 | YPVXKTHJ7EM46PGPQ3RONDSEEUHXKTAX… |
| 153 (both) | 132, 93 | 20 | −6.99 | XWH2XBB3WATECOIFLUKTXMHK17SSY2ME… |
| 158 | 240 | 20 | −6.89 | ZF2B0GEKJXII32RXRCO4LRS2DXA2RBDO… |
| 170 | 106 | 19 | −6.89 | N5ADB08EKYND918UFEED92H3ELZEJ0UA… |
| 176 (GGDAA) | 220 | 22 | −7.10 | RGXCXXPPUN6RAXZK2YD8PMRX4NVX4ZYT… |
| 189 | 84 | 22 | −7.08 | 1AA1SLUOXO.VGXWUXUWH6LXXNHLV.9WW… |
| 198 | 165 | 20 | −6.97 | LTDUUKWRA28KK61UITPUU31LEPXSIP42… |
| 217 | 170 | 18 | −7.04 | YBEIEU84543EOTXT45R8K6XXGCSF4PWI… |
Nothing clears −6.7. The solved messages come out between −4.4 and −6.0 on the same run, and random letters at about −7.3. So none of the ten is one of the fifteen keys with two or fewer block mutilations, which is exactly the boundary the 2017 readers reached and stopped at. A digit-heavy output is the usual sign of a wrong key: real traffic here is mostly letters, and a wrong square scatters bigrams across the digit cells.
The CHI key on the two page-153 messages
In September 2017 Norbert suggested, without testing it, that the two page-153 messages might belong to the CHI key, since they are of the same period. Direct decryption with parity repair, and the block search, both return noise for both messages. The cause is a further unlisted key or losses heavier than two blocks.
A key-free attack, and why it fails
If some of the open messages were enciphered under a key not in the corpus, the key would have to be recovered from the ciphertext alone. keyless.py tries: anneal the column order at each candidate length on the index of coincidence of the letter pairs the untransposition produces, since a correct untransposition pairs the bigrams of a monoalphabetic substitution, then solve the 36-symbol substitution with the German model. Before running it on the open messages it was run on a planted control: 224 letters of German enciphered under a length-19 key of the same design.
| candidate length | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 (true) | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| pair IC after annealing | 0.055 | 0.048 | 0.060 | 0.053 | 0.064 | 0.058 | 0.066 | 0.063 | 0.073 |
The true length does not stand out: the peak at 19 is beaten by 21, 22 and 23, and the substitution stage does not converge at any length. The control is not recovered. Lasry’s own program, built for this purpose, needed 356 letters to recover a length-16 key. The nine open messages are 84 to 240 letters long. A key-free recovery is therefore out of reach at these lengths, with one exception: two or more open messages that share an unknown key could be solved jointly, as the two CHI messages were. Nothing in the ciphertext marks which those would be, and the two page-153 messages, the natural candidates, give nothing when tried together.
07 Status, and what would change it
Ten messages are decrypted, three in part, nine open. The open messages were tested in September 2026 and fail under every known key with up to two block edits; page 217, open then, was deciphered under a further key that same month (section 03), and that key fails on the other nine too. Three things would change that.
| what | why it would matter |
|---|---|
| The Childs originals | Several of the nine carry explicit gap marks in the printed transcription and one is labelled “missing 10 letters”. The transcription Schmeh printed is a copy of a copy; the intercept sheets may hold the letters the search has to guess. |
| A further key | The CHI message proved the published list is not complete. A key recovered from any other source, or from a longer message in the same period that was never on this list, could be tested against all ten in seconds. |
| A search past two edits | Three block edits against fifteen keys is within reach of compute and is the natural next step; it was not run here because two edits was the standard that solved everything the 2017 readers solved, and the scores give no sign that any open message is close. |
Until one of those arrives, the useful products are the table above, the fifteen keys in machine-readable form with the three damaged squares repaired and the CHI square rebuilt, and a decoder that reproduces the 2017 decryptions without being given their plaintext.
08 Files
| file | contents |
|---|---|
targets/adfgvx/msgs.txt | the twenty-two cryptograms as Schmeh printed them, gap marks preserved |
targets/adfgvx/keys.json | fifteen keys: Lasry’s fourteen with the three damaged squares repaired, and the CHI key of 13 November |
targets/adfgvx/key16.py | rebuilds the CHI substitution square from the two-part plaintext |
targets/adfgvx/repair.py | the decoder; validate reproduces page 100, solve runs the insertion search on all messages |
targets/adfgvx/blocks.py | Norbert’s two-block-edit search against all keys; output in blocks_out.txt |
targets/adfgvx/gaps.py | gap-aware parser and annealer for residual single-letter losses |
targets/adfgvx/lm_de.py | German quadgram model, 3.6 M letters of Gutenberg German |
targets/adfgvx/keyless.py | the key-free transposition attack; control output in kl_control224.txt |
research/top50/arts/46_comments.txt | the 70 comments of the 2017 thread, text |
targets/adfgvx/NOTES.md | the working notes, both sessions |
Full texts
The transcription and the decryption of every document on this page, so that the reading can be used and checked. Short files are shown here; all are in the repository.
22 ADFGVX messages, Childs pages 73-217 (Nov 1918): the nine read in full (pp. 100, 105, 109, 132, 146, 171, 176, 187 part 1 and its part 2 AFAFF)
German ADFGVX radio messages of November 1918 from James Rives Childs's transcription, listed by George Lasry on Schmeh's blog in 2017 among the messages with no known decipherment. The readings, consolidated from the 2017 comment thread (Norbert, Armin, Baertl, Lasry), are routine traffic: march reports towards Belgrade, a repeat-telegram order, the Kertsch radio station, rouble rates after the break with the Soviet government; no decipherment of the other ten messages is known.
Transcription
entry-content">
Unsolved ADFXVX messages from World War I
Provided by George Lasry
This page lists radio messages from World War I encrypted in the ADFGVX cipher that still wait to be solved. For more information click here. A list of known key is available here. It contains most certainly all the keys used during the period. So the challenge is to understand how the cryptograms were mutilated or affected, probably by reception problems, or maybe even by wrong transmission or encoding. And try to see if after some additions/edits, they can be decrypted with one of the keys.
Page 73
D–FX GDVDX DGGAA AGFFD DVDXF XFGGD DAVGD DDADG
DGFGG DDVVD XDGDA FDDXG XXDGX AVDXX DDGAD DFGFA
GVDXV FDXFD DFDDD FXDFG XFXVF DDDXX DXGDA GXFDG
DDVFX GAXDF VFDVD XVXDF XDDXF DFVDG FDGDA DGDGX
XFGXF AAAXX XDXAG VXD
Page 100
VDDAD AADFG VVVAV GDAFV VAFGV DDVXF DFGGA AGXAA
GGVAD XGAXV XAXGA XAGAX DDGDG VFFAX GDFGF DVGFA
ADVVG VXGDV GGDDA DAVAG FXDFV ADVDG FGDDF GDAVG
AA
Page 105
GAGVA AXADF XVAXV XGVDA XDGAF ADFFG FXXXV DAGDX
DXDXX VVGGX AVDAG GGFDG GAFXD XAGAA FFDGD XGDVD
VGGAF XDXAF AVDXF VVDGX DDFFX DADDG VGDGD XVXXG
DGDDG FFFGV ADVXD VXFXD GXAAD DVXXG VDAXX VAXDX
GFDDV VFVDA VXADD GFAFD GAVXA GVDGA FFDDD GAGAG
DGFDF XFDXG GFDDG VGAFA XFGAV FGGVF XGXAD FDXVX
XAXGD XGGGV GDXGX XGVDF VXAAV GDXDX DGADX GVAAD
FXGGV DGGAX
Page 109
XGDFG GADFD GAXGF VFVGG VDDGV GADXF DGVGX AAGDF
DADGF AGXAG GADDV FGDXD FGVVG XXAXA DDVVV XXAXA
DDVVV XXFXV DVDDG VDAAD DXDAA VFXAX GDVGG GDAVG
FDVGD GVFGF VDVVX DFFDD VVXDX VDADX XVVXV VDFGF
GVVVV AGXGG XGFDA FGADV VDAFG AGDAD GDXXV GGXVA
AADGV XGGDX GAGGD VGGXV FAFAX GDVGV FADGD FAXAD
GVFDD DAVGV FAGAG VGD
Page 132
AAXAX FXAVF AAFAD VFGFA GVAGX FDVXX FAVAG XXDAA
DXFAF FFFFA FAXXA AVXGV VFAFA GAAXV AVAXF AGVXV
AFVXA FVAAA VGAFA VVAAA XFF– XADAG AVADF AFGXV
FGVFX XGDAA XGAXA VDVDA VADVX FGFAX FVVGF
Page 146
FVFAF DXAXX GXDXA GVVXX FFFAX DXDXF AGVFV AXAXV
VAFXA XFGVD XGAXA VAVVX XVDVA AXAFA FFFXV DVXAV
AXFGA DFFGA XAADG DAVAX GVGVA VXVGX AXXFX XVFAX
XXAVV FAAVA FXAVX VGAGX FGFFV AFAVD FXADA DVAVX
XXVGA FXDGX AAAFD AVAAF GVVFA DXVFX AFFVA FVFGX
DVFDA XGXXF VFAVD XAAAV XAAXV XAAXV XAFDX AXDGF
GXXV
Page 152
FXVAD FDXAA XXFAG VFVDX AAGFD DFDVv VAAVA AXVGX
GDAXA AGVAV ADAFD DGVDD FVAVX FVXXv FXXXG FGXGF
AFXXG XGFAA AVFFX XFDFV VVAX
Page 153
VFVAX FXDAD ADVGX FAVGD VDDDA DXGAA AXVGV FVDAD
DXADA DVVAV GFXDA GDDDG DXGGG VVXDX FVVAV VVFAX
FXDXA FAVVG GXAVX VFVXV FGFVA XGAAV XXGDX XFVXF
XGGVA DAVAF DG
Page 153
AXVAA —– —– —– DDAFF VAXAG GADAF DXAXX
XVDGD XVXFF GXFAV VAADA GXXXA XDDGV AVAXV AXAAV
VXVAV GXAXX FGXXF AAAFX VADFD XVF
Page 158
GDDFV VXVDD VVVFG XXVDD XVADD VVFGV VDDVV DVAXV
XVGVV GVXDD XVVVG X–GV DDGDX VAVGG AAAXG AFFAD
VDADD VAXVD VVDDD GADAX FAXXF GFFXF XDVVD DXDGD
DAXVA VXXVV VVFGD (VVFGD) VVFGV DDDAG GVXDG XDDVV
XXVDG VVVXG DXXVX VADDF GGGDX AXVFX VDGDD FVGVG
VDGVG VVDAD {VVDAD} VVVGA VVXVD GGXFA XVXGV VDDDX
XF
Page 164
F-G-X FGXXD DAFVD AX-GD XXDGV XXGVA VAADF DVVVV
FVDV- —VV -FG– GX— —– —– —– —–
—– XGADG G—- XVDAG XGXXG VGDGV VVFVV GFVFA
VDGXG XXDAV XFDDV VVGVV V-VDD VXFFF XVDGG VXAGV
GXVVG VVDGA VDVXV VXXGD DGAXF DX-DG VGVXX VAGDG
DD
Page 164
VFGAG DDFFX FDVDD AXADV FGD– —VX DXGGA VDGGG
VGVDD DDXDX VDDDV VDGGV FXGFA DGDAF FVFFX DGFVX
FXXVA GGGVA F—- –VVD GVGVA XXXXF XVGVV -ADVG
VFXXD VVXGX VGXXG GVXXV VGXV- -VVDD —– —–
—– —– —– —
Page 170
AAGVG VVDAG GAGAV AGGAA VAXGV AAAXF AAXAF AGVGV
VVVVG DADAF GDVGV GVGAD XAGAA GXGGA GVFVG XGXAG
GGAFA XGFXX AGXVG VFDVX VDFGX V
Page 171
AAVGF DDADX XDAAV GXAGX AFVAA ADDXD AXDDD DGDDD
AAGDV VGVXD GDVDV GVVVV VVGXV VDFVG GVVDV DDVGX
DVXVX XGAXA -DDDX XDDXD XXAXD VDXVX ADAGD AGXGA
ADDVV XGXDD GDVFA –FFA XGDDX G-VVD VVXDF GVVDG
VGVAG GXVXV VVVVD VXVGG VGGXG GVVGD GXXVG GVVXX
DXDDG VDVVV DDDGG XVVGD DXXDD GGVDX XVVVD GGXGV
DGVFA DDDAX ADDGD VGDDX XVDVD DVVDV XGVGX XVXXV
XXGVA GAGFD XDDAD AXGXD AXXAV DXXGX DVAX
Page 176 missing 10 letters
VVAVD ADDDD DFGGV DGAXG AVDAV AVDAD GAVDA AVXXX
FXFXX XXAFA XAFGV ADAVV ADADD AXXFA ADAAD VDFGA
VDVAD VAADG VVVFX VFDDX DFFXX GXGVV VDXGD VVDVV
AFDVX ADVXX GFDAG XXFFD GFXDD AXFGD DAXDX AXVFF
DAGAG XXDXV DXVGA AVVGD GGFVA GFAXX VXXVD VVFXX
VDVFV VDDDG ADAA
Page 176
GGDAA FXAVD FFFDG XXAGV XXXDV XAAFV GAGAF VFAGA
VDDDD AVXGF FAFXG XXXXX GAVAA AAGDV GGGVA AXDVX
XXFAD FXXXX DGVDG FDVGD DAADV XXXFV XGXXD XGGGG
AGVDG VAGGG DVVDF VAFAV VVXDF DFFFF XXXAX XGVDX
XFXDF FXXDX XXXXV GGGDA FGGDX VVVAA FDVFX XVXXF
VGGFG DAAFV GGGGX AVVVV
Page ??
VGADA FAXAD XFAXF FVXDD XXXDX D-F– DDAVF VGXDF
FXDGF VVVFA GXXXA FAGDD FAVDG VAVXF AFDXA FDGAD
VAFFV VFFAA XDGVV AVXXV GDFDF VVGDF AAFAV FVXGG
VFAAA XXDAV AVFFA DAFAA XAGGA DADVD FVVDF GAAVA
AXADV DAXVF DFGDF GV-FA -GDDA FGG-D VFFDX —VD
FAAAX XADGF FDFFX –VAA AAXXV XFXDF XGFDA VAADF
DDVVX XXF
Page 187
FFVXV GVVXA XFAFA DAXVX GADDV VVAVV VXVFV GVAAX
VVADA DVFAD XGDDF GVAAD VAVGA VFDAF FFDFF AVAFV
DXFAF AAFXA FXXAG XXDXA DGFAX GFGAD XFGFF VAAXG
FADAA AFDXG VGAFX FXDXX ADADD FGADA GVAFA AGXGD
XGXAX VGGXF FDXAG XDAGX AXFAV FFVVV AAFAV FFVAA
ADFAG FAFDV DF
Page ???
AFAFF AXDVA VVVVF ADVFA GXGVX AGVAX AXGGA AAAAA
ADDVV XVGAG AGXVV FGAAF VVXGD GGAVG VFDVD VDDDV
DXFAD DDDAX ADVVG AAFFG XGXAG GDADF VFXDA DGDDG
GAAXD VDFAD FFDDX VADDV GD
Page 189
DVGAG G-AAV V–AX FVXXV ADAXX AGAVD VGXAX VVXVV
—VA VDXVX XXVGV XAAVA GAXXG AXXFX VXXFX XGVVV
DFFXD XAXDV
Page 198
DFVXV XGAXD GXVXD VGVGD VADXF FADVX XXVFV AAXGF
DGFFA VXAVV VXVFV GFVFG DGVFG FFFGV VVGGG XVFXF
XXFVD VDFDD FXAAX VVXAA FXXXV GXFVD VVXXF FGXGV
FGXFG GFAAA FGXVV FXXXF FADXD AFXFV VDGVX FGAGF
ADDFX
Page 217
DXXXG GVXAX ADXVD GDAAA DGXAG AVDGV FAFAA DFFFG
XFVXD DVDVF GFVVV AADXG AAVAV AAXDG VADDD DVADG
FAGVV GVVGD AVXFF DAADV FFAXG VDVDD AGDVF XAAVA
ADDAF FDFAA GXVAA GAFXD ADFFX AVDAA DADXX AADVA
XVVAD FDVAA
Abonnieren
Abonnieren mit:
RSS2
Atom
Mit einem Feedreader abonnieren
Anzeige-->
Über den AutorDecryption
# Readings of the 22 messages, copied verbatim from NOTES.md (second session, 2026-09-15): the 2017 Cipherbrain readers' decryptions consolidated per Childs page; open messages are marked '-'. | Childs page | letters | status | key | reading (2017 author) | |---|---|---|---|---| | 73 | 176 + 2 marked gaps | **open** | none fits | - | | 100 | 122 | solved | Nov 1-3 | KEINE STOERUNG DURCH FEIND X MITTAGS 2 FEINDL X DIV X IM MARSCH AUF BELGRAD X (Armin) | | 105 | 290 | solved | Nov 1-3 | GERMANIA ETAPPE KONSTANTINOPEL XX FUER MITTELMEER DIVISION ZU X TEL X NR X 62 X DIV X TELEGR X NR X 58 X ERSTELLT X 32141 X Q4 ... VOM X 4 X NOVEMBER ERLEDIGT X ADMIRALSTAB X 32398 X B (Norbert) | | 109 | 258 | solved | Nov 1-3 | O X K X M X ABENDMELDUNG X S4V4 X UNTERBRINGUNG LETZTER TEILE BEENDET X 1 WEITERER DU X DIV 5 IM MARSCH AUF BELGRADER KAVV X 2 X SONST KEINE EREIGNISSE XX ASO X K511 (Norbert) | | 132 | 153 + gap | solved | Nov 4-6 | FUER EILVESE X WIEDERHOLE TELEGR X VON VIERTER PERIODE IN FUENFTER X GEBETSORDER 5 MIN X VVV; the encipherer wrote VVV for one VV, hence the odd length (Norbert, comment 37) | | 146 | 244 | solved | Nov 4-6 | FUNKSTELLE KERTSCH ER HAT BETRIEB X 1F X RUFNAMEN RICHARD EMIL KARL X FUNKSTELLEN DORTIGEN BEREICHS BENACHRICHTIGEN X NACHRICHTENCHEF 4B X 7834 X (Norbert) | | 152 | 104 | **open** | none fits | - | | 153 (VFVAX) | 132 | **open** | none fits, incl. the CHI key | - | | 153 (AXVAA) | 93 + 15 marked gaps | **open** | none fits, incl. the CHI key | - | | 158 | 240 + 2 gaps | **open** | none fits | - | | 164 (F-G-X) | 158 + 44 gaps | partial | Nov 7-9 | ... X 9 X 11 X TEMESVAR X ... DIE VON X MIRCO NACH WESTEN UND SUEDEN WEG X LEIDER WEGE VOM GEGNER BESETZT X (Norbert, comment 42) | | 164 (VFGAG) | 136 + 44 gaps | partial | Nov 7-9 | EL X DIE HOEHE X 828 X O X H X L X MIRCO X SONST KEINE EREIGNISSE VON BEDEUTUNG XX (Norbert, 41/44) | | 170 | 106 | **open** | none fits | - | | 171 | 310 + 4 gaps | solved | Nov 7-9 | IN UKRAINE UND POLEN RUBELKURSE STARK STEIGEND INFOLGE BRUCHES ZWISCHEN DEUTSCHLAND UND SOWJETREGIERUNG UND ERWARTUNG DER WIEDERHERSTELLUNG RUSSLANDS DURCH DEUTSCHLAND UND ENTENTE (Norbert) | | 176 "missing 10 letters" | 214 | solved | Nov 10-12 | DURCHBRUCH VORBEREITET X DURCHBRUCHSRICHTUNG NACH NORDEN ODER NORDOSTEN ERFOLGEN WIRD X KANN JETZT NOCH NICHT BEURTEILT WERDEN X (Norbert) | | 176 (GGDAA) | 220 | **open** | none fits | - | | ?? (VGADA; Childs p. 215, 22 Nov) | 237 + 11 gaps | partial | Nov 22-24 | ABS X MIDIV 5 X EILMELDG X 24N X 24N X ARMADA KERTSCH X BRINGT ENTENTE FLOTTE ZWO DIVISIONEN X NEUSEELAENDER X ENGL X U X FRANZO X MIT X ... OHL X KORPS ... (Norbert, comment 32; Baertl) | | 187 (FFVXV; Childs p. 191, 13 Nov, part 1) | 212 | solved | **CHI 13 Nov (new)** | RUSSISCHEN UND POLN HEERESVERKEHR VOLL ERFASSEN X WICHTIGES BESONDERS AUS POLN VERKEHR UEBER OHL STATION VERZIFFERT FUNKEN (Lasry, Norbert) | | ??? (AFAFF; part 2) | 142 | solved | CHI 13 Nov | SOWEIT FERNSCHREIBERVERBDG NICHT ARBEITET X REST SCHRIFTLICH X NACH CHEF (Lasry, Norbert) | | 189 | 84 + 6 gaps | **open** | none fits | - | | 198 | 165 | **open** | none fits | - | | 217 | 170 | **open** | none fits | - | Nine solved, three partial, **ten never read by anyone**. The transcript page 187 (SELLV..., "Stellv Gen Kom 9 AK Breslau") was a message the Kassel team had already solved and does not belong on the list (Lasry, comment 29).
Reading
# Childs residue, the nine messages read in full: reading Rests on: the 2017 Cipherbrain readers' decryptions (Armin, Norbert, Lasry, Baertl; Schmeh's blog thread), consolidated per Childs page in `residue22_decryption.md` (the table, which also lists the thirteen open and partial messages). This file keeps only the nine messages read in full, so that the reading body is the running text and not the table (v3 verification, 23 Oct 2026). Letters as the 2017 readers give them; the operator's X (stop) is rendered as a full stop or comma, nothing else changed; abbreviations (DIV, TELEGR, NR, FEINDL, ASO, OHL, VERBDG) kept as sent. The partial messages (pp. 164 F-G-X, 164 VFGAG, 215 VGADA) are in `vgada_partial_reading.md` and the table; they are not part of this entry. ## Reading p. 100. KEINE STOERUNG DURCH FEIND. MITTAGS 2 FEINDL. DIV. IM MARSCH AUF BELGRAD. p. 105. GERMANIA ETAPPE KONSTANTINOPEL. FUER MITTELMEER DIVISION ZU TEL. NR. 62. DIV. TELEGR. NR. 58. ERSTELLT. 32141. Q4 [...] VOM 4. NOVEMBER ERLEDIGT. ADMIRALSTAB. 32398. B. p. 109. O. K. M. ABENDMELDUNG. S4V4. UNTERBRINGUNG LETZTER TEILE BEENDET. 1 WEITERER DU. DIV 5 IM MARSCH AUF BELGRADER KAVV. 2. SONST KEINE EREIGNISSE. ASO. K511. p. 132. FUER EILVESE. WIEDERHOLE TELEGR. VON VIERTER PERIODE IN FUENFTER. GEBETSORDER 5 MIN. VVV. p. 146. FUNKSTELLE KERTSCH ER HAT BETRIEB. 1F. RUFNAMEN RICHARD EMIL KARL. FUNKSTELLEN DORTIGEN BEREICHS BENACHRICHTIGEN. NACHRICHTENCHEF 4B. 7834. p. 171. IN UKRAINE UND POLEN RUBELKURSE STARK STEIGEND INFOLGE BRUCHES ZWISCHEN DEUTSCHLAND UND SOWJETREGIERUNG UND ERWARTUNG DER WIEDERHERSTELLUNG RUSSLANDS DURCH DEUTSCHLAND UND ENTENTE. p. 176. DURCHBRUCH VORBEREITET. DURCHBRUCHSRICHTUNG NACH NORDEN ODER NORDOSTEN ERFOLGEN WIRD. KANN JETZT NOCH NICHT BEURTEILT WERDEN. p. 187 (part 1). RUSSISCHEN UND POLN HEERESVERKEHR VOLL ERFASSEN. WICHTIGES BESONDERS AUS POLN VERKEHR UEBER OHL STATION VERZIFFERT FUNKEN. p. 187 (part 2, AFAFF). SOWEIT FERNSCHREIBERVERBDG NICHT ARBEITET. REST SCHRIFTLICH. NACH CHEF. ## Notes - The "..." in p. 105 is the 2017 reader's own gap, kept as [...]. - Numbers (message numbers, times, call signs) count as holes in the sentence score; they are what the telegrams say.
Translation
<!-- English translation of texts/residue22_reading.md (Claude Opus 5.5, 23 Oct 2026): the nine ADFGVX messages of Childs's residue read in full by the 2017 Cipherbrain readers. Abbreviations expanded only where the meaning is certain; numbers and call signs kept as sent. --> # Childs residue, the nine messages read in full (German ADFGVX radio traffic, November 1918): English translation p. 100. No interference from the enemy. At midday 2 enemy divisions on the march towards Belgrade. p. 105. Germania, base (Etappe) Constantinople. For Mediterranean Division, re tel. no. 62. Div. telegram no. 58 done. 32141. Q4 [...] of 4 November dealt with. Admiralty Staff (Admiralstab). 32398. B. p. 109. O.K.M. evening report. S4V4. Quartering of the last elements completed. 1 further DU. Div 5 on the march towards Belgrade KAVV. 2. Otherwise no events. ASO. K511. p. 132. For EILVESE. Repeat telegram from fourth period in fifth. Prayer order 5 min. VVV. p. 146. Radio station Kertsch [Kerch] is operating. 1F. Call signs Richard Emil Karl. Notify the radio stations of that area. Chief of signals 4B. 7834. p. 171. In the Ukraine and Poland rouble rates rising sharply as a result of the break between Germany and the Soviet government and the expectation of the restoration of Russia by Germany and the Entente. p. 176. Breakthrough prepared. Whether the direction of the breakthrough will be to the north or north-east cannot yet be judged. p. 187 (part 1). Intercept Russian and Polish army traffic in full. Send anything important, especially from Polish traffic, enciphered by radio via the OHL [Supreme Army Command] station. p. 187 (part 2, AFAFF). As far as the teleprinter connection is not working. The rest in writing. To the chief.
the same file: three messages read only in part (p. 164 F-G-X, p. 164 VFGAG, VGADA p. 215) and nine with no reading (pp. 73, 152, 153 VFVAX and AXVAA, 158, 170, 176 GGDAA, 189, 198); p. 217 is now its own entry decoded, not read
Twelve of the 22 residue messages: three give fragments (Temesvar, Mirco; the Entente fleet at Kertsch with New Zealand, English and French divisions, VGADA, partial reading in texts/vgada_partial_reading.md); nine have no reading, because no known key fits them and several carry marked transmission gaps.
A mechanical decode with holes in most sentences: shown so that the transcription and the key can be checked and improved, not as a reading.
Transcription
entry-content">
Unsolved ADFXVX messages from World War I
Provided by George Lasry
This page lists radio messages from World War I encrypted in the ADFGVX cipher that still wait to be solved. For more information click here. A list of known key is available here. It contains most certainly all the keys used during the period. So the challenge is to understand how the cryptograms were mutilated or affected, probably by reception problems, or maybe even by wrong transmission or encoding. And try to see if after some additions/edits, they can be decrypted with one of the keys.
Page 73
D–FX GDVDX DGGAA AGFFD DVDXF XFGGD DAVGD DDADG
DGFGG DDVVD XDGDA FDDXG XXDGX AVDXX DDGAD DFGFA
GVDXV FDXFD DFDDD FXDFG XFXVF DDDXX DXGDA GXFDG
DDVFX GAXDF VFDVD XVXDF XDDXF DFVDG FDGDA DGDGX
XFGXF AAAXX XDXAG VXD
Page 100
VDDAD AADFG VVVAV GDAFV VAFGV DDVXF DFGGA AGXAA
GGVAD XGAXV XAXGA XAGAX DDGDG VFFAX GDFGF DVGFA
ADVVG VXGDV GGDDA DAVAG FXDFV ADVDG FGDDF GDAVG
AA
Page 105
GAGVA AXADF XVAXV XGVDA XDGAF ADFFG FXXXV DAGDX
DXDXX VVGGX AVDAG GGFDG GAFXD XAGAA FFDGD XGDVD
VGGAF XDXAF AVDXF VVDGX DDFFX DADDG VGDGD XVXXG
DGDDG FFFGV ADVXD VXFXD GXAAD DVXXG VDAXX VAXDX
GFDDV VFVDA VXADD GFAFD GAVXA GVDGA FFDDD GAGAG
DGFDF XFDXG GFDDG VGAFA XFGAV FGGVF XGXAD FDXVX
XAXGD XGGGV GDXGX XGVDF VXAAV GDXDX DGADX GVAAD
FXGGV DGGAX
Page 109
XGDFG GADFD GAXGF VFVGG VDDGV GADXF DGVGX AAGDF
DADGF AGXAG GADDV FGDXD FGVVG XXAXA DDVVV XXAXA
DDVVV XXFXV DVDDG VDAAD DXDAA VFXAX GDVGG GDAVG
FDVGD GVFGF VDVVX DFFDD VVXDX VDADX XVVXV VDFGF
GVVVV AGXGG XGFDA FGADV VDAFG AGDAD GDXXV GGXVA
AADGV XGGDX GAGGD VGGXV FAFAX GDVGV FADGD FAXAD
GVFDD DAVGV FAGAG VGD
Page 132
AAXAX FXAVF AAFAD VFGFA GVAGX FDVXX FAVAG XXDAA
DXFAF FFFFA FAXXA AVXGV VFAFA GAAXV AVAXF AGVXV
AFVXA FVAAA VGAFA VVAAA XFF– XADAG AVADF AFGXV
FGVFX XGDAA XGAXA VDVDA VADVX FGFAX FVVGF
Page 146
FVFAF DXAXX GXDXA GVVXX FFFAX DXDXF AGVFV AXAXV
VAFXA XFGVD XGAXA VAVVX XVDVA AXAFA FFFXV DVXAV
AXFGA DFFGA XAADG DAVAX GVGVA VXVGX AXXFX XVFAX
XXAVV FAAVA FXAVX VGAGX FGFFV AFAVD FXADA DVAVX
XXVGA FXDGX AAAFD AVAAF GVVFA DXVFX AFFVA FVFGX
DVFDA XGXXF VFAVD XAAAV XAAXV XAAXV XAFDX AXDGF
GXXV
Page 152
FXVAD FDXAA XXFAG VFVDX AAGFD DFDVv VAAVA AXVGX
GDAXA AGVAV ADAFD DGVDD FVAVX FVXXv FXXXG FGXGF
AFXXG XGFAA AVFFX XFDFV VVAX
Page 153
VFVAX FXDAD ADVGX FAVGD VDDDA DXGAA AXVGV FVDAD
DXADA DVVAV GFXDA GDDDG DXGGG VVXDX FVVAV VVFAX
FXDXA FAVVG GXAVX VFVXV FGFVA XGAAV XXGDX XFVXF
XGGVA DAVAF DG
Page 153
AXVAA —– —– —– DDAFF VAXAG GADAF DXAXX
XVDGD XVXFF GXFAV VAADA GXXXA XDDGV AVAXV AXAAV
VXVAV GXAXX FGXXF AAAFX VADFD XVF
Page 158
GDDFV VXVDD VVVFG XXVDD XVADD VVFGV VDDVV DVAXV
XVGVV GVXDD XVVVG X–GV DDGDX VAVGG AAAXG AFFAD
VDADD VAXVD VVDDD GADAX FAXXF GFFXF XDVVD DXDGD
DAXVA VXXVV VVFGD (VVFGD) VVFGV DDDAG GVXDG XDDVV
XXVDG VVVXG DXXVX VADDF GGGDX AXVFX VDGDD FVGVG
VDGVG VVDAD {VVDAD} VVVGA VVXVD GGXFA XVXGV VDDDX
XF
Page 164
F-G-X FGXXD DAFVD AX-GD XXDGV XXGVA VAADF DVVVV
FVDV- —VV -FG– GX— —– —– —– —–
—– XGADG G—- XVDAG XGXXG VGDGV VVFVV GFVFA
VDGXG XXDAV XFDDV VVGVV V-VDD VXFFF XVDGG VXAGV
GXVVG VVDGA VDVXV VXXGD DGAXF DX-DG VGVXX VAGDG
DD
Page 164
VFGAG DDFFX FDVDD AXADV FGD– —VX DXGGA VDGGG
VGVDD DDXDX VDDDV VDGGV FXGFA DGDAF FVFFX DGFVX
FXXVA GGGVA F—- –VVD GVGVA XXXXF XVGVV -ADVG
VFXXD VVXGX VGXXG GVXXV VGXV- -VVDD —– —–
—– —– —– —
Page 170
AAGVG VVDAG GAGAV AGGAA VAXGV AAAXF AAXAF AGVGV
VVVVG DADAF GDVGV GVGAD XAGAA GXGGA GVFVG XGXAG
GGAFA XGFXX AGXVG VFDVX VDFGX V
Page 171
AAVGF DDADX XDAAV GXAGX AFVAA ADDXD AXDDD DGDDD
AAGDV VGVXD GDVDV GVVVV VVGXV VDFVG GVVDV DDVGX
DVXVX XGAXA -DDDX XDDXD XXAXD VDXVX ADAGD AGXGA
ADDVV XGXDD GDVFA –FFA XGDDX G-VVD VVXDF GVVDG
VGVAG GXVXV VVVVD VXVGG VGGXG GVVGD GXXVG GVVXX
DXDDG VDVVV DDDGG XVVGD DXXDD GGVDX XVVVD GGXGV
DGVFA DDDAX ADDGD VGDDX XVDVD DVVDV XGVGX XVXXV
XXGVA GAGFD XDDAD AXGXD AXXAV DXXGX DVAX
Page 176 missing 10 letters
VVAVD ADDDD DFGGV DGAXG AVDAV AVDAD GAVDA AVXXX
FXFXX XXAFA XAFGV ADAVV ADADD AXXFA ADAAD VDFGA
VDVAD VAADG VVVFX VFDDX DFFXX GXGVV VDXGD VVDVV
AFDVX ADVXX GFDAG XXFFD GFXDD AXFGD DAXDX AXVFF
DAGAG XXDXV DXVGA AVVGD GGFVA GFAXX VXXVD VVFXX
VDVFV VDDDG ADAA
Page 176
GGDAA FXAVD FFFDG XXAGV XXXDV XAAFV GAGAF VFAGA
VDDDD AVXGF FAFXG XXXXX GAVAA AAGDV GGGVA AXDVX
XXFAD FXXXX DGVDG FDVGD DAADV XXXFV XGXXD XGGGG
AGVDG VAGGG DVVDF VAFAV VVXDF DFFFF XXXAX XGVDX
XFXDF FXXDX XXXXV GGGDA FGGDX VVVAA FDVFX XVXXF
VGGFG DAAFV GGGGX AVVVV
Page ??
VGADA FAXAD XFAXF FVXDD XXXDX D-F– DDAVF VGXDF
FXDGF VVVFA GXXXA FAGDD FAVDG VAVXF AFDXA FDGAD
VAFFV VFFAA XDGVV AVXXV GDFDF VVGDF AAFAV FVXGG
VFAAA XXDAV AVFFA DAFAA XAGGA DADVD FVVDF GAAVA
AXADV DAXVF DFGDF GV-FA -GDDA FGG-D VFFDX —VD
FAAAX XADGF FDFFX –VAA AAXXV XFXDF XGFDA VAADF
DDVVX XXF
Page 187
FFVXV GVVXA XFAFA DAXVX GADDV VVAVV VXVFV GVAAX
VVADA DVFAD XGDDF GVAAD VAVGA VFDAF FFDFF AVAFV
DXFAF AAFXA FXXAG XXDXA DGFAX GFGAD XFGFF VAAXG
FADAA AFDXG VGAFX FXDXX ADADD FGADA GVAFA AGXGD
XGXAX VGGXF FDXAG XDAGX AXFAV FFVVV AAFAV FFVAA
ADFAG FAFDV DF
Page ???
AFAFF AXDVA VVVVF ADVFA GXGVX AGVAX AXGGA AAAAA
ADDVV XVGAG AGXVV FGAAF VVXGD GGAVG VFDVD VDDDV
DXFAD DDDAX ADVVG AAFFG XGXAG GDADF VFXDA DGDDG
GAAXD VDFAD FFDDX VADDV GD
Page 189
DVGAG G-AAV V–AX FVXXV ADAXX AGAVD VGXAX VVXVV
—VA VDXVX XXVGV XAAVA GAXXG AXXFX VXXFX XGVVV
DFFXD XAXDV
Page 198
DFVXV XGAXD GXVXD VGVGD VADXF FADVX XXVFV AAXGF
DGFFA VXAVV VXVFV GFVFG DGVFG FFFGV VVGGG XVFXF
XXFVD VDFDD FXAAX VVXAA FXXXV GXFVD VVXXF FGXGV
FGXFG GFAAA FGXVV FXXXF FADXD AFXFV VDGVX FGAGF
ADDFX
Page 217
DXXXG GVXAX ADXVD GDAAA DGXAG AVDGV FAFAA DFFFG
XFVXD DVDVF GFVVV AADXG AAVAV AAXDG VADDD DVADG
FAGVV GVVGD AVXFF DAADV FFAXG VDVDD AGDVF XAAVA
ADDAF FDFAA GXVAA GAFXD ADFFX AVDAA DADXX AADVA
XVVAD FDVAA
Abonnieren
Abonnieren mit:
RSS2
Atom
Mit einem Feedreader abonnieren
Anzeige-->
Über den AutorDecryption
# Readings of the 22 messages, copied verbatim from NOTES.md (second session, 2026-09-15): the 2017 Cipherbrain readers' decryptions consolidated per Childs page; open messages are marked '-'. | Childs page | letters | status | key | reading (2017 author) | |---|---|---|---|---| | 73 | 176 + 2 marked gaps | **open** | none fits | - | | 100 | 122 | solved | Nov 1-3 | KEINE STOERUNG DURCH FEIND X MITTAGS 2 FEINDL X DIV X IM MARSCH AUF BELGRAD X (Armin) | | 105 | 290 | solved | Nov 1-3 | GERMANIA ETAPPE KONSTANTINOPEL XX FUER MITTELMEER DIVISION ZU X TEL X NR X 62 X DIV X TELEGR X NR X 58 X ERSTELLT X 32141 X Q4 ... VOM X 4 X NOVEMBER ERLEDIGT X ADMIRALSTAB X 32398 X B (Norbert) | | 109 | 258 | solved | Nov 1-3 | O X K X M X ABENDMELDUNG X S4V4 X UNTERBRINGUNG LETZTER TEILE BEENDET X 1 WEITERER DU X DIV 5 IM MARSCH AUF BELGRADER KAVV X 2 X SONST KEINE EREIGNISSE XX ASO X K511 (Norbert) | | 132 | 153 + gap | solved | Nov 4-6 | FUER EILVESE X WIEDERHOLE TELEGR X VON VIERTER PERIODE IN FUENFTER X GEBETSORDER 5 MIN X VVV; the encipherer wrote VVV for one VV, hence the odd length (Norbert, comment 37) | | 146 | 244 | solved | Nov 4-6 | FUNKSTELLE KERTSCH ER HAT BETRIEB X 1F X RUFNAMEN RICHARD EMIL KARL X FUNKSTELLEN DORTIGEN BEREICHS BENACHRICHTIGEN X NACHRICHTENCHEF 4B X 7834 X (Norbert) | | 152 | 104 | **open** | none fits | - | | 153 (VFVAX) | 132 | **open** | none fits, incl. the CHI key | - | | 153 (AXVAA) | 93 + 15 marked gaps | **open** | none fits, incl. the CHI key | - | | 158 | 240 + 2 gaps | **open** | none fits | - | | 164 (F-G-X) | 158 + 44 gaps | partial | Nov 7-9 | ... X 9 X 11 X TEMESVAR X ... DIE VON X MIRCO NACH WESTEN UND SUEDEN WEG X LEIDER WEGE VOM GEGNER BESETZT X (Norbert, comment 42) | | 164 (VFGAG) | 136 + 44 gaps | partial | Nov 7-9 | EL X DIE HOEHE X 828 X O X H X L X MIRCO X SONST KEINE EREIGNISSE VON BEDEUTUNG XX (Norbert, 41/44) | | 170 | 106 | **open** | none fits | - | | 171 | 310 + 4 gaps | solved | Nov 7-9 | IN UKRAINE UND POLEN RUBELKURSE STARK STEIGEND INFOLGE BRUCHES ZWISCHEN DEUTSCHLAND UND SOWJETREGIERUNG UND ERWARTUNG DER WIEDERHERSTELLUNG RUSSLANDS DURCH DEUTSCHLAND UND ENTENTE (Norbert) | | 176 "missing 10 letters" | 214 | solved | Nov 10-12 | DURCHBRUCH VORBEREITET X DURCHBRUCHSRICHTUNG NACH NORDEN ODER NORDOSTEN ERFOLGEN WIRD X KANN JETZT NOCH NICHT BEURTEILT WERDEN X (Norbert) | | 176 (GGDAA) | 220 | **open** | none fits | - | | ?? (VGADA; Childs p. 215, 22 Nov) | 237 + 11 gaps | partial | Nov 22-24 | ABS X MIDIV 5 X EILMELDG X 24N X 24N X ARMADA KERTSCH X BRINGT ENTENTE FLOTTE ZWO DIVISIONEN X NEUSEELAENDER X ENGL X U X FRANZO X MIT X ... OHL X KORPS ... (Norbert, comment 32; Baertl) | | 187 (FFVXV; Childs p. 191, 13 Nov, part 1) | 212 | solved | **CHI 13 Nov (new)** | RUSSISCHEN UND POLN HEERESVERKEHR VOLL ERFASSEN X WICHTIGES BESONDERS AUS POLN VERKEHR UEBER OHL STATION VERZIFFERT FUNKEN (Lasry, Norbert) | | ??? (AFAFF; part 2) | 142 | solved | CHI 13 Nov | SOWEIT FERNSCHREIBERVERBDG NICHT ARBEITET X REST SCHRIFTLICH X NACH CHEF (Lasry, Norbert) | | 189 | 84 + 6 gaps | **open** | none fits | - | | 198 | 165 | **open** | none fits | - | | 217 | 170 | **open** | none fits | - | Nine solved, three partial, **ten never read by anyone**. The transcript page 187 (SELLV..., "Stellv Gen Kom 9 AK Breslau") was a message the Kassel team had already solved and does not belong on the list (Lasry, comment 29).
Childs p. 217 (DXXXG GVXAX ..., 27 Nov 1918), one of the ten open messages
An English cruiser has put in at Sevastopol on the 24th; an Allied squadron follows on the 26th. Decipherment published by 'prinz' on 17 Sept 2026 (keyword TRUPPENVERSCHIEBUNG, a key Childs lists for later use), checked here against the figures: the 85 plaintext letters map one to one onto the 85 ADFGVX pairs (23 pairs, 23 letters, no conflict).
Transcription
entry-content">
Unsolved ADFXVX messages from World War I
Provided by George Lasry
This page lists radio messages from World War I encrypted in the ADFGVX cipher that still wait to be solved. For more information click here. A list of known key is available here. It contains most certainly all the keys used during the period. So the challenge is to understand how the cryptograms were mutilated or affected, probably by reception problems, or maybe even by wrong transmission or encoding. And try to see if after some additions/edits, they can be decrypted with one of the keys.
Page 73
D–FX GDVDX DGGAA AGFFD DVDXF XFGGD DAVGD DDADG
DGFGG DDVVD XDGDA FDDXG XXDGX AVDXX DDGAD DFGFA
GVDXV FDXFD DFDDD FXDFG XFXVF DDDXX DXGDA GXFDG
DDVFX GAXDF VFDVD XVXDF XDDXF DFVDG FDGDA DGDGX
XFGXF AAAXX XDXAG VXD
Page 100
VDDAD AADFG VVVAV GDAFV VAFGV DDVXF DFGGA AGXAA
GGVAD XGAXV XAXGA XAGAX DDGDG VFFAX GDFGF DVGFA
ADVVG VXGDV GGDDA DAVAG FXDFV ADVDG FGDDF GDAVG
AA
Page 105
GAGVA AXADF XVAXV XGVDA XDGAF ADFFG FXXXV DAGDX
DXDXX VVGGX AVDAG GGFDG GAFXD XAGAA FFDGD XGDVD
VGGAF XDXAF AVDXF VVDGX DDFFX DADDG VGDGD XVXXG
DGDDG FFFGV ADVXD VXFXD GXAAD DVXXG VDAXX VAXDX
GFDDV VFVDA VXADD GFAFD GAVXA GVDGA FFDDD GAGAG
DGFDF XFDXG GFDDG VGAFA XFGAV FGGVF XGXAD FDXVX
XAXGD XGGGV GDXGX XGVDF VXAAV GDXDX DGADX GVAAD
FXGGV DGGAX
Page 109
XGDFG GADFD GAXGF VFVGG VDDGV GADXF DGVGX AAGDF
DADGF AGXAG GADDV FGDXD FGVVG XXAXA DDVVV XXAXA
DDVVV XXFXV DVDDG VDAAD DXDAA VFXAX GDVGG GDAVG
FDVGD GVFGF VDVVX DFFDD VVXDX VDADX XVVXV VDFGF
GVVVV AGXGG XGFDA FGADV VDAFG AGDAD GDXXV GGXVA
AADGV XGGDX GAGGD VGGXV FAFAX GDVGV FADGD FAXAD
GVFDD DAVGV FAGAG VGD
Page 132
AAXAX FXAVF AAFAD VFGFA GVAGX FDVXX FAVAG XXDAA
DXFAF FFFFA FAXXA AVXGV VFAFA GAAXV AVAXF AGVXV
AFVXA FVAAA VGAFA VVAAA XFF– XADAG AVADF AFGXV
FGVFX XGDAA XGAXA VDVDA VADVX FGFAX FVVGF
Page 146
FVFAF DXAXX GXDXA GVVXX FFFAX DXDXF AGVFV AXAXV
VAFXA XFGVD XGAXA VAVVX XVDVA AXAFA FFFXV DVXAV
AXFGA DFFGA XAADG DAVAX GVGVA VXVGX AXXFX XVFAX
XXAVV FAAVA FXAVX VGAGX FGFFV AFAVD FXADA DVAVX
XXVGA FXDGX AAAFD AVAAF GVVFA DXVFX AFFVA FVFGX
DVFDA XGXXF VFAVD XAAAV XAAXV XAAXV XAFDX AXDGF
GXXV
Page 152
FXVAD FDXAA XXFAG VFVDX AAGFD DFDVv VAAVA AXVGX
GDAXA AGVAV ADAFD DGVDD FVAVX FVXXv FXXXG FGXGF
AFXXG XGFAA AVFFX XFDFV VVAX
Page 153
VFVAX FXDAD ADVGX FAVGD VDDDA DXGAA AXVGV FVDAD
DXADA DVVAV GFXDA GDDDG DXGGG VVXDX FVVAV VVFAX
FXDXA FAVVG GXAVX VFVXV FGFVA XGAAV XXGDX XFVXF
XGGVA DAVAF DG
Page 153
AXVAA —– —– —– DDAFF VAXAG GADAF DXAXX
XVDGD XVXFF GXFAV VAADA GXXXA XDDGV AVAXV AXAAV
VXVAV GXAXX FGXXF AAAFX VADFD XVF
Page 158
GDDFV VXVDD VVVFG XXVDD XVADD VVFGV VDDVV DVAXV
XVGVV GVXDD XVVVG X–GV DDGDX VAVGG AAAXG AFFAD
VDADD VAXVD VVDDD GADAX FAXXF GFFXF XDVVD DXDGD
DAXVA VXXVV VVFGD (VVFGD) VVFGV DDDAG GVXDG XDDVV
XXVDG VVVXG DXXVX VADDF GGGDX AXVFX VDGDD FVGVG
VDGVG VVDAD {VVDAD} VVVGA VVXVD GGXFA XVXGV VDDDX
XF
Page 164
F-G-X FGXXD DAFVD AX-GD XXDGV XXGVA VAADF DVVVV
FVDV- —VV -FG– GX— —– —– —– —–
—– XGADG G—- XVDAG XGXXG VGDGV VVFVV GFVFA
VDGXG XXDAV XFDDV VVGVV V-VDD VXFFF XVDGG VXAGV
GXVVG VVDGA VDVXV VXXGD DGAXF DX-DG VGVXX VAGDG
DD
Page 164
VFGAG DDFFX FDVDD AXADV FGD– —VX DXGGA VDGGG
VGVDD DDXDX VDDDV VDGGV FXGFA DGDAF FVFFX DGFVX
FXXVA GGGVA F—- –VVD GVGVA XXXXF XVGVV -ADVG
VFXXD VVXGX VGXXG GVXXV VGXV- -VVDD —– —–
—– —– —– —
Page 170
AAGVG VVDAG GAGAV AGGAA VAXGV AAAXF AAXAF AGVGV
VVVVG DADAF GDVGV GVGAD XAGAA GXGGA GVFVG XGXAG
GGAFA XGFXX AGXVG VFDVX VDFGX V
Page 171
AAVGF DDADX XDAAV GXAGX AFVAA ADDXD AXDDD DGDDD
AAGDV VGVXD GDVDV GVVVV VVGXV VDFVG GVVDV DDVGX
DVXVX XGAXA -DDDX XDDXD XXAXD VDXVX ADAGD AGXGA
ADDVV XGXDD GDVFA –FFA XGDDX G-VVD VVXDF GVVDG
VGVAG GXVXV VVVVD VXVGG VGGXG GVVGD GXXVG GVVXX
DXDDG VDVVV DDDGG XVVGD DXXDD GGVDX XVVVD GGXGV
DGVFA DDDAX ADDGD VGDDX XVDVD DVVDV XGVGX XVXXV
XXGVA GAGFD XDDAD AXGXD AXXAV DXXGX DVAX
Page 176 missing 10 letters
VVAVD ADDDD DFGGV DGAXG AVDAV AVDAD GAVDA AVXXX
FXFXX XXAFA XAFGV ADAVV ADADD AXXFA ADAAD VDFGA
VDVAD VAADG VVVFX VFDDX DFFXX GXGVV VDXGD VVDVV
AFDVX ADVXX GFDAG XXFFD GFXDD AXFGD DAXDX AXVFF
DAGAG XXDXV DXVGA AVVGD GGFVA GFAXX VXXVD VVFXX
VDVFV VDDDG ADAA
Page 176
GGDAA FXAVD FFFDG XXAGV XXXDV XAAFV GAGAF VFAGA
VDDDD AVXGF FAFXG XXXXX GAVAA AAGDV GGGVA AXDVX
XXFAD FXXXX DGVDG FDVGD DAADV XXXFV XGXXD XGGGG
AGVDG VAGGG DVVDF VAFAV VVXDF DFFFF XXXAX XGVDX
XFXDF FXXDX XXXXV GGGDA FGGDX VVVAA FDVFX XVXXF
VGGFG DAAFV GGGGX AVVVV
Page ??
VGADA FAXAD XFAXF FVXDD XXXDX D-F– DDAVF VGXDF
FXDGF VVVFA GXXXA FAGDD FAVDG VAVXF AFDXA FDGAD
VAFFV VFFAA XDGVV AVXXV GDFDF VVGDF AAFAV FVXGG
VFAAA XXDAV AVFFA DAFAA XAGGA DADVD FVVDF GAAVA
AXADV DAXVF DFGDF GV-FA -GDDA FGG-D VFFDX —VD
FAAAX XADGF FDFFX –VAA AAXXV XFXDF XGFDA VAADF
DDVVX XXF
Page 187
FFVXV GVVXA XFAFA DAXVX GADDV VVAVV VXVFV GVAAX
VVADA DVFAD XGDDF GVAAD VAVGA VFDAF FFDFF AVAFV
DXFAF AAFXA FXXAG XXDXA DGFAX GFGAD XFGFF VAAXG
FADAA AFDXG VGAFX FXDXX ADADD FGADA GVAFA AGXGD
XGXAX VGGXF FDXAG XDAGX AXFAV FFVVV AAFAV FFVAA
ADFAG FAFDV DF
Page ???
AFAFF AXDVA VVVVF ADVFA GXGVX AGVAX AXGGA AAAAA
ADDVV XVGAG AGXVV FGAAF VVXGD GGAVG VFDVD VDDDV
DXFAD DDDAX ADVVG AAFFG XGXAG GDADF VFXDA DGDDG
GAAXD VDFAD FFDDX VADDV GD
Page 189
DVGAG G-AAV V–AX FVXXV ADAXX AGAVD VGXAX VVXVV
—VA VDXVX XXVGV XAAVA GAXXG AXXFX VXXFX XGVVV
DFFXD XAXDV
Page 198
DFVXV XGAXD GXVXD VGVGD VADXF FADVX XXVFV AAXGF
DGFFA VXAVV VXVFV GFVFG DGVFG FFFGV VVGGG XVFXF
XXFVD VDFDD FXAAX VVXAA FXXXV GXFVD VVXXF FGXGV
FGXFG GFAAA FGXVV FXXXF FADXD AFXFV VDGVX FGAGF
ADDFX
Page 217
DXXXG GVXAX ADXVD GDAAA DGXAG AVDGV FAFAA DFFFG
XFVXD DVDVF GFVVV AADXG AAVAV AAXDG VADDD DVADG
FAGVV GVVGD AVXFF DAADV FFAXG VDVDD AGDVF XAAVA
ADDAF FDFAA GXVAA GAFXD ADFFX AVDAA DADXX AADVA
XVVAD FDVAA
Abonnieren
Abonnieren mit:
RSS2
Atom
Mit einem Feedreader abonnieren
Anzeige-->
Über den AutorDecryption
cells 170 plaintext letters 85
B pairs 23 letters 23 pair->2+ letters 0 letter->2+ pairs 0
conflicts {} {}
A T R U P E 4
D N - S C 2 H
F - I - - - G
G 6 A - D - F
V - - - K L -
X O - W X - Z
A pairs 23 letters 23 pair->2+ letters 0 letter->2+ pairs 0
conflicts {} {}
A T R U P E 4
D N - S C 2 H
F - I - - - G
G 6 A - D - F
V - - - K L -
X O - W X - Z
73 176 cells known 0.67 XI.H2.N.Z..2..IAK.LNAII4..H.HAIX.APXFHG4S.6OZIG.I.OA.FC..I.W..W.AR2AF..I.AON.FC.
152 104 cells known 0.75 ..HUG.E..H.SZLZ2.ZLZR.EHF42OKO6T..TAU2.LK6UT.INP.HLO
153 132 cells known 0.62 4Z.AC.OEXGP.IRZT....2T2N.CEXN4..T.TGP.EO..HAH..2...H.LC..XL2X.K..R
153 92 cells known 0.76 ZZ..6RSN.Z.EE.LHFZ..44R26.E.CO2TOZGGTXORP2.U.O
158 240 cells known 0.55 HF2T.2IK.K2.....LCNCL...D2.4.....X.C.CIE.DDF..K..L.L..C.N......C..ELAHCO.R.TF.2I
170 106 cells known 0.68 .XCL...O.TO.EC..DUGXDP.EA.KC.FKR6DT.LN.KE4.D.P.4DTR.6
176 missi 214 cells known 0.71 X..SH.W.ZEX2P..FFL.HG.LP..OS4.6E2...L..R2..RRI.KCLSHPA.UOP.OXZTT.XN.H2UCONHO..DI
176 220 cells known 0.68 W..S..HKO.ENCLZ.ZFH...KG.FA.X.D.6WD.EX.P6D6G6.FRWAU6Z.N..RC.H.OUG.U.ELRA6ZP.A.C.
189 84 cells known 0.52 .....X.R.ZE..4.AR....O.OO.P.FEO.2.P.ROZ2UL
198 164 cells known 0.56 4.E.EGXR..W.DAX2N...I...X....6.LF..K.G..O.W...HEGNC4DWAX..S4A.I.D..NW.S6..4L..WWReading
# Childs p. 217 (DXXXG GVXAX ..., 27 Nov 1918): reading Rests on: the decipherment published by "prinz" on 17 Sept 2026 (reported by The Neuron, 18 Sept 2026, and news coverage: keyword TRUPPENVERSCHIEBUNG, a key Childs lists for later use), **checked here against the figures** (`research/reading_audit/b24_adfgvx_217.py`, output `p217_b24_check.txt`): with the transposition keyword TRUPPENVERSCHIEBUNG the 170 received ADFGVX letters (`msgs.txt`, no marked gaps) give 85 pairs, and the 85 letters of the reported plaintext map onto them one to one (23 distinct pairs, 23 distinct letters, no pair with two letters, no letter with two pairs). The 23 recovered cells fall into a keyword-shaped square (first row T R U P E 4, second N · S C 2 H). Every letter of the reading is carried by its pair under that square; nothing is supplied. The text is telegraphic; the operator's X (stop) is rendered as a comma or full stop in the reading and kept in the letter-for-letter line; "S4STEN" is kept as the figures give it (a date, "?4th"; "S4N" recurs in VGADA p. 215). ## Reading EIN ENGLISCHER KREUZER EINLIEG, SEWASTOPOL, S4STEN. EIN GESCHWADER DER, ALLIIERTEN FOLGT 26STEN. ## Notes - Letter for letter: EIN ENGLISCHER KREUZER EINLIEG X SEWASTOPOL X S4STEN X EIN GESCHWADER DER X ALLIIERTEN FOLGT 26STEN X - "EINLIEG" (eingelaufen / liegt ein) is the operator's abbreviation; "DER X ALLIIERTEN" keeps the stop the operator put inside the phrase. - The Royal Navy record cited with the report (HMS Canterbury at Sevastopol on 24 Nov 1918, an Allied squadron on 26 Nov) fits "S4STEN" = 24th; the cipher check above does not depend on it.
Translation
# Childs p. 217 (27 Nov 1918): English Translation of `p217_reading.md`. ## Translation An English cruiser has put in, Sevastopol, on the [?2]4th. A squadron of the Allies follows on the 26th.
Key: keys.json