Seven courier letters, Germany to Russia (1919–20)

At a glanceCiphertext-only break · partial (99% of the cipher)

The letters: Seven reports of the communist secretariat in Germany to Soviet officials in Russia, 23 December 1919 to 19 February 1920, typed copies, made at Riga, of letters carried by couriers on an aeroplane forced down in Latvia on 6 April 1920.
Where: US National Archives, RG 59, Central Decimal File 1910–29, file 862.20261, microfilm M336 roll 75, frames 0456–0470 (naId 574886726); the cipher text is on frames 0462–0464.
The cipher: A single columnar transposition of German with no nulls and no word division, in two keys: 19 columns for indicator 27001 and 25 columns for 27003.
How it was deciphered: both keys were recovered, by Claude agents under George Lasry’s direction, by annealing over column orders with a German 4-gram score, using no plaintext; the 1920 State Department translations of five parts, found in the same file, were used afterwards and agree.
What it says: Couriers, money and jewels, addresses in Berlin, a secretariat in need of funds, a branch in Vienna, a planned congress, and the failed conference in Holland with its arrests.
Still open: About 34 letters in Fortsetzung 2, one letter of a name in Zusatz, 15 letters in Fortsetzung 3 supplied from the sense and the 1920 translation, and some blotted places in the copy; no human check beyond the contributor’s own comparison with the images.
Credit: The keys, the corrected ciphertext and the readings are George Lasry’s, made with Claude agents under his direction (contributed through the repository). The State Department’s 1920 translations are the earlier reading of five parts.

01 The letters

Typed copies, made at Riga, of letters sent by communists in Germany to Soviet officials in Russia, which NOTES records as sewn into the clothes of couriers on a German aeroplane forced down in Latvia on 6 April 1920 (from the despatch of 21 April 1920, not seen here). The US Commissioner at Riga sent the copies to the Secretary of State with despatch No. 155 of 21 April 1920. The cipher text is on frames 0462–0464 of the microfilm: seven parts, each opening with an indicator (27001 or 27003) and its letter count.

Part	Date	Frame	Indicator	Letters
Anfang	23 Dec 1919	0462	27001	296
Fortsetzung 2	23 Dec 1919	0462	27003	400
Fortsetzung 3	23 Dec 1919	0462	27001	287
Fortsetzung 4	23 Dec 1919	0462	27001	304
Fortsetzung 5	23 Dec 1919	0463	27003	340
Schlussmitteilungen	25 Dec 1919	0463	27001	498
Zusatz	19 Feb 1920	0464	27003	940

The State Department read the letters in 1920. Its instruction No. 16 to Riga (5 August 1920, frame 0456) says the code material “has proven of great interest” and encloses translations, and a confidential memorandum (frames 0468–0470) gives English translations of Anfang and of Fortsetzung 3, 4 and 5 and Schlussmitteilungen. The file holds no German plaintext and no key, and Fortsetzung 2 and Zusatz have no translation in it.

02 The two keys

Both indicators are a single columnar transposition of German: no nulls, no word division, Ä, Ö and Ü as single letters. The plaintext is written in rows under a numbered key and the columns are taken top to bottom in the order of the key numbers; when the last row is short, the long columns are the leftmost ones.

Indicator	Columns	Key, left to right
27001	19	5 1 15 16 8 4 7 17 12 18 13 2 19 14 9 6 3 10 11
27003	25	1 3 10 24 6 11 12 4 2 16 5 7 14 13 8 20 15 22 17 25 23 18 19 21 9

The 16 rows of the Fortsetzung 2 rectangle, written under the 25-column key, show how the text sits in it (the full rectangles of every part are in decryption.md):

Key   1  3 10 24  6 11 12  4  2 16  5  7 14 13  8 20 15 22 17 25 23 18 19 21  9
 1    G  A  L  I  E  I  E  A  U  F  E  I  G  E  N  E  F  A  U  S  T  N  A  C  H
 2    S  C  H  W  E  I  Z  M  O  S  K  A  U  G  E  R  E  I  S  T  B  E  R  I  C
 3    H  T  I  T  A  L  I  E  N  W  A  H  R  S  C  H  E  I  N  L  I  C  H  D  O

Reading each row across gives “…auf eigene Faust nach Schweiz Moskau gereist Bericht Italien wahrscheinlich do…”, the first three rows of the part.

03 How the keys were found

Letter counts: all seven parts have a German profile (E high, or R high where the copy types R for E) and no dependence between adjacent letters, so the text is a transposition.
Simulated annealing over column orders, scored with German 4-grams, recovered the 19-column key from Fortsetzung 4 and Schlussmitteilungen (indicator 27001) and the 25-column key from Zusatz (27003, 940 letters). No plaintext was used. The 25-column key decrypts Fortsetzung 2 and 5 as well.
Fortsetzung 3 reads with the 27001 key once the three groups missing from the copy (15 letters) are located; Anfang reads with it once a struck-out group of five letters after TSUWI is removed, and the remaining letters are exactly the 296 of the indicator line.
The 1920 English translation was used afterwards, to check the readings and to settle some names.

The method is a recovery of the key from the ciphertext alone. The 1920 translations were not used to find either key.

04 The reading

The German is built into sentences and translated for every part (reading.md). George Lasry graded the German of all seven parts A: coherent, with scattered holes. In brief:

Anfang. The air consignment arrived; the writer asks for letters in the hand of Lenin, Trotsky and Zinoviev for Italy and France, rejects Osipoff as unreliable and asks for Koriniez to be recalled. “Flugsendung gut angekommen. Material nicht wiederholen, neues senden.” (“Air consignment arrived safely. Do not repeat material; send new.”)
Fortsetzung 2. A man travelled on his own to Switzerland and Moscow and is highly suspicious; the couriers Else, Olga and Hilde came from Riga with old material; courier addresses in Berlin; the Commissariat demands material.
Fortsetzung 3. Pochitonoff is said to be in Switzerland; negotiations with Sylvia, money given, more handwritten English wanted from her; Litvinov answers neither couriers nor letters; Dzerzhinsky’s confidential man is wanted.
Fortsetzung 4. The secretariat urgently needs money and material, names its newly elected members, and reports contact with Holland and its own publications (Russische Korrespondenz).
Fortsetzung 5. A branch is set up in Vienna; contact with all countries; a congress in January or February; Radek or Bukharin is needed; signed Thomas (James).
Schlussmitteilungen. Fedoroff’s stones handed over for France; a plea not to fund individual countries but mainly the party press; a commission for Balabanoff.
Zusatz. The failed conference in Holland and the arrests that followed, police pressure on the secretariat, a radio station ready, journalists exchanged with the Frankfurter Zeitung, and an urgent need of money for Bulgaria, Serbia and France.

05 The typed copy

The copy on the microfilm is a blurred carbon: many letters are blotted (E, R, B, H, K, M and N fill in) and the 1920 typist made slips. transcription.txt gives the letters as they stand on the page. For each part the corrected plaintext was re-enciphered and compared letter by letter with that transcription, and the differences were checked on the NARA images under George Lasry’s direction (he compared the places listed by eye); ciphertext_corrected.txt is the ciphertext as it fits the decryption, with ? only where a letter is lost.

The reading notes record how many letters of the typed copy are blotted or mistyped in each part: 33, 89, 35, 3, 107, 36 and 115 in the order of the table, Fortsetzung 5 (107 of 340 letters) being the worst; the confusions are mostly visual (R for E, P for F, N and M). The project did not re-measure these counts and did not see the images. The contributor’s decrypt.py only decrypts the corrected ciphertext and compares it with the plaintext file written from it, so it checks the files against each other and does not test the reading.

06 What remains uncertain

Fortsetzung 2: about 34 letters decrypt but do not read (the opening GALIEIE, OE after “verdächtig”, the names PEL…ZIERSKI and RELCW, VILARDOVRRHAFEET before “jetzt frei”); the part has no 1920 translation.
Zusatz: one letter of the name O?galski is illegible.
Fortsetzung 3: the 15 letters of three groups missing from the copy are supplied from the sense and the 1920 translation.
Fortsetzung 5: “Es geht schön vorwärts” rests on two letters corrected against the copy; it matches the 1920 translation (wording not checked here).
Schlussmitteilungen: “Auftrag auf Zürich [?]”; the copy has ZURUCK and the 1920 translation “Order on Zuruch”.
Two more blotted places are illegible in the reading notes: the fourth letter of DDN?Ä in Fortsetzung 4 and the two blotted letters of PL??F in Schlussmitteilungen.
No statistical validation is recorded; for a transposition there is no substitution key to score against shuffled keys. The images were not seen by the project, and no printed edition of the German text is known.

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.

Seven courier letters, December 1919 - February 1920 read in part

Reports of the communist secretariat in Germany to Moscow: couriers, money and jewels, addresses, the Vienna branch, the planned congress, the failed Holland conference and arrests, and requests for Radek or Bukharin.

Builds coherent sentences, but under the read bar of 95% of words read as sense; the holes are marked in the reading.

Transcription

transcription.txt

# Transcription of the typed copies, as on the page (NARA M336 roll 75, frames 0462-0464)
# [?] or ? = letter not legible. Spacing follows the copy.

## r75-0462-1 — Anfang, 23 December 1919 (NARA M336 roll 75, frame 0462)
Indicator 27001, 296 letters

27001
296
LNKWA OLFSU SKESB GGATW EIKMV TSHNV DAHER
IRSMS NSRIC  FEMHÜ CIFSE       WTDRS FÄFOI EHRAO ROTHI RBINO SENUO
TÄETO TUMNAO NHZRT NSIEE TKDSN RYGKN MDOTH DBUHA ISDKF HHLSU KLEUE
TMUNI IESDI  IGHÄK YDMTT PHIEC NEAHU RECKH KMNIM TSUWI GINTB WRTUA
BCUSR KTMEE  LWCOR VLNÜN NUMDE NTIPE NTRZE ESGEE RDZEB MKARA LRCDT
LSRIA IUPHU  SMNLM RNHIO HMZRA SESEC ULUIN EIIEI OEGOE

## r75-0462-2 — Fortsetzung 2, 23 December 1919 (NARA M336 roll 75, frame 0462)
Indicator 27003, 400 letters

27003
400
GSHRP HERRM RUNLL VUONE MRASM R[?]CIT DRACT TIISI
SSEDG THIAM RTBSI IENPI RNOVE KAREG GZELS OLIRH [?][?][?][?]M RTAR[?] KAAS[?]
RIAHR LAEHU CANUP CAMEC CIMAL RENSÖ APEHC OHATU RKRUA RTWIL HIEGL MBKLA
ZTSWL IILAV ARDSV ONTDP DETIL KURRG OPZRE BORGS ÖKWRR GAKSM TPEKU RESAB
ERNNI NFYPP RESRK HNSOT RLROJ PSWNV ILSSE AKARO RUSNV RDRRR USACE CT[?]RC
DONNE UIERO MTPAR HÄLAE ZNCER PEIRE REHUE CIRSS AGRRT OIDCG LKIPH NLPWO
EAIIT IOTPT LRILA VETBI PERIP RSEVD RACIY TRODA RIONW NBIAS TLRPH EINTI
THGKZ

## r75-0462-3 — Fortsetzung 3, 23 December 1919 (NARA M336 roll 75, frame 0462)
Indicator 27001, 287 letters

27001
287
EPHEN AHRIN RRCIR NEPWO BIDEN OEEZN ININE
MIBHI LCBSR SRGCH NHRBR OERSK KEVER BERED SERRZ NELTEGG TLRCI
HRWTS EHRUE MDCLR IHMRO IGTNG IGWIR UHRAH ULIKE VECHG BÜFHI NITAN
ENHVI RNSIT UNZAL YOMEW WERAM BFRSÜ VLHEN DFDEG TNRUR HRALP F[?]EUC
IOSIT BAMPI TOHSC SCCLW KNUTH NCEVR AOIRE STNHY TIERE TOEND LERSI
EFTUÖ SAANE ACHGP RSISI

## r75-0462-4 — Fortsetzung 4, 23 December 1919 (NARA M336 roll 75, frame 0462)
Indicator 27001, 304 letters

27001
304
ENERE DDN[?]A ZNEIB STUMA ITTFT VELDS HENRS
PTLZZ TNÄDM NSDTI UIKGT VRPIT ESCHS AGERT LEVWI OTNIS EDEAI
AHNAO TDOIU NGCTN REROS ANMRC HEEEG NENNN ETKKV IUCIT OSBIC EIREN
KEAOF IEHTG UNGSR OMTRE RNPIE ESOEK KRUHU NLBEN TDLKK LCTTE EOIAE
LRASN EESON RERLH RDTRS RRBRA NHRPN KNLNR ZDMHE TISRI DRDES IEEBL
TANTA SEHGE ENARE UIISH GKDRH GAMIO RLHHA EBRAC GNAEI EAIKL ECES

## r75-0463-1 — Fortsetzung 5, 23 December 1919 (NARA M336 roll 75, frame 0463)
Indicator 27003, 340 letters

27003
340
INTIS EROCI TPHEL NTPH[?] RANIS PHSEB ROSIT
WHGZI LOIOI HERAR KASIE UANTR REEZC ERRIJ ALBIN NANCE ROHSL
TVIRC DOHOS NCABI ZAJTA RNBON RSOHA ILÄKI TIRCT KANWV LSGEH BGIEC
ORSED NSHRD PNGIM ECINU SIRSP IRCMR WIHUI KEMAH KEXOS PRENP DOTHE
ORGDU REAMU DASIE EAVEP DISEM TSAAI RÖOSS OMAR[?] RRABT OMETI DETWI
HRARM KONPS ZSNÜR DSRDA BRKIV CRBLY TLÖBR ÄTIWL OMMRU SCANS PHHBI VIÜUR
LAEIR AIOÄJ RUICK CAPCC TDC[?]P LAAIJ

## r75-0463-2 — Schlussmitteilungen, 25 December 1919 (NARA M336 roll 75, frame 0463)
Indicator 27001, 498 letters

27001
498
EBBHU ULRAN AUNIC RENÜC EWEPT NDN[?]H TGLNZ HDRTL ERÜEE UTIAH RUSNI
BHIDU AROVI RETEL EOPNT EFTTO HOORR ILOTN KHEGS INDTE GLCAR FAIFZ
NIGNU MLHEU ÜBTTI TRNUP AOIEE TTUEH ONTBE NEDRL ÄGÄAE PIZFF WTPET IHEAO
ILROL KRESE AHUTR CNREE RDIAI ERGNS RNENR LAIGO ERGRR IRCNN HNDEU NEHSN
LSHOB TECRI GSCUD CETNR ERONH ADIEA TTHEN NEAHE NHRTK SPESS LREOR UEHNR
TGGKN HLIBR ZESIA ENSEO TAZRU RCHNL EACLT PL[?][?]F TNAÜL GCARS THEOO GÜSUI
CONDS AVOTU RICNK EDERD RNEÜB GLSWN HUIWC HIKNT RTAOI AOVSZ NSNST IEENB
EKUPN SSAWS FÜIFÜ NUCTR NRNDÖ NLLIR SRTBF GEFSEUOGNI AEUER STNIH TARSL
UUSNG DDEPH ERAIÄ NERNK PZENE ACJ

## r75-0464 — Zusatz, 19 February 1920 (NARA M336 roll 75, frame 0464)
Indicator 27003, 940 letters

27003
940
KSPTR RENIE TOÄNE SOVEO EISOC EPTEX EYNEE EIIZE
APNZE EIPIC DDOHÖA ELZUM GHOMR MREGI ETPEG OIATI ESENR ETNDU
TSDIK RNIHH NODPZ LAAKN VZGNN LLEWS NERER RHNCW ENEHE ENCNE
ERIG[?] RPTRO IOTAF EA[?]EE OIPMR REDSÄ GXHLG ALEET NTLAT UANKE
TEHAD LLLSE GTPRZ IRRNT GINEI AEINI EAWLF ECLDU SRNIR GTHOV
RAIES RACEI IUDRN GWDSP SSNER NTSSU GIBSU NNHII EEHLO EUÄTU
DEEDN NAGEJ ZDTRE APEBR ENRWL UIMRE LIREO AÄERC IGGIE GBEÜT
NCLEL UCRPO RUGAC ORETO ZUANS ÖLESO DLOOI OTTRI XCNVU IIKID
WIPEN AERUO GNWGR CNEEN MEIIL HECKL IOSCZ ISOUA EGDBI DCBNE
OEIIE MROEN GENTA ROEAI TENSE ERRRD TCTIN NHRZR IILEN ITBHF
TFLON SKZUM EORLE EPOSI ZTNRC EFEBE EIEKI CCKIA DGLRD IETKA
ÄEFHT GOECA BSSEE I[?]WTE CFLEU IIHIR RWWXV CHWHE EGRRO REUCD
AEEST IIPAK UARNE NRICR LITEF DEEEN ERAES THEIM GARLH SEHIN
UGNIE VUNAI RKVE[?] ESSNB INUAU ENDRN NTAER UIBDV NROME UGILE
UWBTE EESDM DTNIF ETAEC IANSE NOIYP FNVRE NHEAC SRWTI NWNUB
NRNRI VÄUER OEROG HNSNC KAÄRN IEEES GSENI FNRÜI RNTBS NGF[?]Ö
AEVTU LHERU NITTE AGNRU ICGGH NRAAR HDDGR TNUEV TEORT AENCL
OYLMS MAERA NN[?]KE EFNRE RLGNT HLELN EKOWW NSLHL SWEDU NTATT
GLTMH IHMLN GÜKRA HCIEÄ TGEUT TSEAL NWTTB NEENT IATRI EANE

Decryption

decryption.md

# Decryption: keys and transposition rectangles

Seven letters sent by communists in Germany to Soviet officials in Russia, December 1919 – February 1920. NARA RG 59, M336 roll 75, frames 0462–0464 (naId 574886726).

## r75-0462-1 — Anfang, 23 December 1919 (NARA M336 roll 75, frame 0462)
Indicator 27001, 296 letters
Key (19 columns): 5 1 15 16 8 4 7 17 12 18 13 2 19 14 9 6 3 10 11

Transposition rectangle (plaintext written in rows; columns read top to bottom in key order):

```
Column   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Key      5  1 15 16  8  4  7 17 12 18 13  2 19 14  9  6  3 10 11
     1   F  L  U  G  S  E  N  D  U  N  G  G  U  T  A  N  G  E  K
     2   O  M  M  E  N  M  A  T  E  R  I  A  L  N  I  C  H  T  W
     3   I  E  D  E  R  H  O  L  E  N  N  E  U  E  S  S  E  N  D
     4   E  N  E  R  W  Ü  N  S  C  H  T  W  I  E  D  E  R  U  M
     5   H  A  N  D  S  C  H  R  E  I  B  E  N  L  E  N  I  N  T
     6   R  O  T  Z  K  I  Z  I  N  O  W  I  E  W  F  Ü  R  I  T
     7   A  L  I  E  N  F  R  A  N  K  R  E  I  C  H  O  S  I  P
     8   O  F  F  B  E  S  T  I  M  M  T  N  I  C  H  T  M  E  H
     9   R  S  E  N  D  E  N  U  N  Z  U  V  E  R  L  Ä  S  S  I
    10   G  U  N  K  O  N  S  P  I  R  A  T  I  V  S  E  N  D  E
    11   T  S  T  A  T  T  I  H  M  A  B  S  O  L  U  T  S  I  C
    12   H  E  R  E  N  D  E  U  T  S  C  H  E  N  K  O  R  I  N
    13   I  E  Z  A  D  R  E  S  S  E  U  N  G  Ü  L  T  I  G  E
    14   R  S  E  L  B  S  T  M  U  S  S  V  O  N  E  U  C  H  A
    15   B  B  E  R  U  F  E  N  W  E  R  D  E  N  U  N  F  Ä  H
    16   I  G  S  C  H  Ä  D  L  I  C  H
```

## r75-0462-2 — Fortsetzung 2, 23 December 1919 (NARA M336 roll 75, frame 0462)
Indicator 27003, 400 letters
Key (25 columns): 1 3 10 24 6 11 12 4 2 16 5 7 14 13 8 20 15 22 17 25 23 18 19 21 9

Transposition rectangle (plaintext written in rows; columns read top to bottom in key order):

```
Column   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Key      1  3 10 24  6 11 12  4  2 16  5  7 14 13  8 20 15 22 17 25 23 18 19 21  9
     1   G  A  L  I  E  I  E  A  U  F  E  I  G  E  N  E  F  A  U  S  T  N  A  C  H
     2   S  C  H  W  E  I  Z  M  O  S  K  A  U  G  E  R  E  I  S  T  B  E  R  I  C
     3   H  T  I  T  A  L  I  E  N  W  A  H  R  S  C  H  E  I  N  L  I  C  H  D  O
     4   R  T  E  R  H  A  L  T  E  N  E  R  H  Ö  C  H  S  T  V  E  R  D  Ä  C  H
     5   T  I  G  O  E  N  E  B  E  N  E  L  S  E  K  U  R  I  E  R  E  O  L  G  A
     6   H  I  L  D  E  A  U  S  R  I  G  A  A  N  G  E  K  O  M  M  E  N  A  L  T
     7   E  S  M  A  T  E  R  I  A  L  G  E  B  R  A  C  H  T  E  E  I  N  E  K  U
     8   R  I  E  R  A  D  R  E  S  S  E  B  E  R  L  I  N  P  E  L  P  E  Z  I  E
     9   R  S  K  I  R  E  G  E  N  S  B  U  R  G  E  R  S  T  R  N  E  U  N  P  E
    10   N  S  I  O  N  V  O  N  R  E  L  C  W  A  B  S  O  L  U  T  S  I  C  H  E
    11   R  E  A  N  K  O  P  P  F  A  S  A  N  E  N  S  T  R  S  I  E  B  E  N  U
    12   N  D  Z  W  A  N  Z  I  G  K  O  M  I  S  S  A  R  I  A  T  V  E  R  L  A
    13   N  G  T  M  A  T  E  R  I  A  L  U  N  M  Ö  G  L  I  C  H  D  O  P  P  E
    14   L  T  S  E  N  D  E  N  T  R  I  F  F  T  A  R  R  A  N  G  E  M  E  N  T
    15   L  E  W  I  N  F  E  O  D  O  R  O  F  F  P  R  O  V  O  K  A  T  I  O  N
    16   V  I  L  A  R  D  O  V  R  R  H  A  F  E  E  T  J  E  T  Z  T  F  R  E  I
```

## r75-0462-3 — Fortsetzung 3, 23 December 1919 (NARA M336 roll 75, frame 0462)
Indicator 27001, 287 letters
Key (19 columns): 5 1 15 16 8 4 7 17 12 18 13 2 19 14 9 6 3 10 11

Transposition rectangle (plaintext written in rows; columns read top to bottom in key order):

```
Column   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Key      5  1 15 16  8  4  7 17 12 18 13  2 19 14  9  6  3 10 11
     1   R  E  I  S  E  N  L  A  U  T  B  E  S  T  I  M  M  U  N
     2   G  P  O  C  H  I  T  O  N  O  F  F  A  N  G  E  B  L  I
     3   C  H  S  C  H  W  E  I  Z  E  R  W  A  R  T  E  M  I  T
     4   T  E  I  L  U  N  G  R  A  N  S  O  N  U  N  B  E  K  A
     5   N  N  T  W  E  M  G  E  L  D  Ü  B  E  R  G  E  B  E  N
     6   H  A  B  E  M  I  T  S  Y  L  V  I  A  H  I  E  R  V  E
     7   R  H  A  N  D  E  L  T  G  E  L  D  G  E  G  E  B  E  N
     8   B  R  A  U  C  H  E  N  M  E  H  R  H  A  N  D  S  C  H
     9   R  I  F  T  L  I  C  H  E  S  E  N  G  L  I  S  C  H  V
    10   O  N  I  H  R  L  I  T  W  I  N  O  F  F  R  E  A  G  I
    11   E  R  T  N  I  C  H  T  W  E  D  E  R  K  U  R  I  E  R
    12   E  N  O  C  H  B  R  I  E  F  F  E  S  E  H  R  W  Ü  N
    13   S  C  H  E  N  S  W  E  R  T  D  Z  I  E  R  Z  I  N  S
    14   K  I  S  V  E  R  T  R  A  U  E  N  S  M  A  N  N  H  I
    15   E  R  G  R  O  S  S  E  M  Ö  G  L  I  C  H  K  E  I  T
    16   E  N
```

## r75-0462-4 — Fortsetzung 4, 23 December 1919 (NARA M336 roll 75, frame 0462)
Indicator 27001, 304 letters
Key (19 columns): 5 1 15 16 8 4 7 17 12 18 13 2 19 14 9 6 3 10 11

Transposition rectangle (plaintext written in rows; columns read top to bottom in key order):

```
Column   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Key      5  1 15 16  8  4  7 17 12 18 13  2 19 14  9  6  3 10 11
     1   S  E  N  D  E  T  G  E  L  D  I  T  A  L  I  E  N  F  R
     2   A  N  K  R  E  I  C  H  B  R  A  U  C  H  T  D  R  I  N
     3   G  E  N  D  G  U  T  G  E  H  E  N  G  R  O  E  S  E  P
     4   E  R  L  E  N  I  N  E  N  G  L  A  N  D  S  A  P  H  I
     5   R  E  N  S  E  K  R  E  T  A  R  I  A  T  B  I  T  T  E
     6   T  D  R  I  N  G  E  N  D  M  A  T  E  R  I  A  L  G  E
     7   L  D  Z  E  N  T  R  A  L  I  S  T  I  S  C  H  Z  U  S
     8   E  N  D  E  N  V  O  R  K  O  N  F  E  R  E  N  Z  N  O
     9   V  E  M  B  E  R  S  E  K  R  E  T  A  R  I  A  T  G  E
    10   W  Ä  H  L  T  P  A  U  L  L  E  V  I  B  R  O  N  S  K
    11   I  Z  E  T  K  I  N  I  C  H  S  E  K  R  E  T  Ä  R  K
    12   O  N  T  A  K  T  M  I  T  H  O  L  L  A  N  D  D  O  R
    13   T  E  I  N  V  E  R  S  T  A  N  D  E  N  K  O  M  M  U
    14   N  I  S  T  I  S  C  H  E  E  R  S  C  H  E  I  N  T  H
    15   I  E  R  A  U  C  H  G  E  B  E  H  E  R  A  U  S  R  U
    16   S  S  I  S  C  H  E  K  O  R  R  E  S  P  O  N  D  E  N
```

## r75-0463-1 — Fortsetzung 5, 23 December 1919 (NARA M336 roll 75, frame 0463)
Indicator 27003, 340 letters
Key (25 columns): 1 3 10 24 6 11 12 4 2 16 5 7 14 13 8 20 15 22 17 25 23 18 19 21 9

Transposition rectangle (plaintext written in rows; columns read top to bottom in key order):

```
Column   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Key      1  3 10 24  6 11 12  4  2 16  5  7 14 13  8 20 15 22 17 25 23 18 19 21  9
     1   I  N  W  I  E  N  F  I  L  I  A  L  E  G  E  S  C  H  A  F  F  E  N  V  O
     2   N  C  A  R  L  O  M  O  M  E  N  T  K  E  I  N  E  N  A  C  H  R  I  C  H
     3   T  E  R  A  R  B  E  I  T  E  T  V  O  R  Z  Ü  G  L  I  C  H  A  B  R  A
     4   M  O  W  I  T  S  C  H  P  A  R  I  S  W  A  R  D  O  R  T  B  E  R  E  I
     5   T  S  V  O  N  H  I  E  R  V  E  R  B  I  N  D  U  N  G  M  I  T  A  L  L
     6   E  N  L  Ä  N  D  E  R  N  E  S  G  E  H  T  S  C  H  Ö  N  V  O  R  W  Ä
     7   R  T  S  J  A  N  U  A  R  F  E  B  R  U  A  R  B  E  S  T  I  M  M  T  K
     8   O  N  G  R  E  S  S  R  A  D  E  K  W  I  R  D  A  U  S  F  Ü  H  R  L  I
     9   C  H  E  U  C  H  B  E  R  I  C  H  T  E  N  A  B  S  O  L  U  T  N  Ö  T
    10   I  G  H  I  E  R  R  A  D  E  K  O  D  E  R  B  U  C  H  A  R  I  N  B  I
    11   T  T  E  G  R  Ö  S  S  E  R  E  S  U  M  M  E  S  O  B  A  L  D  F  E  R
    12   T  I  G  K  O  P  P  M  O  M  E  N  T  A  N  K  A  N  N  T  A  T  S  Ä  C
    13   H  L  I  C  H  N  I  C  H  T  I  C  H  H  E  I  S  S  E  J  E  T  Z  T  T
    14   H  O  M  A  S  G  R  U  S  S  J  A  M  E  S
```

## r75-0463-2 — Schlussmitteilungen, 25 December 1919 (NARA M336 roll 75, frame 0463)
Indicator 27001, 498 letters
Key (19 columns): 5 1 15 16 8 4 7 17 12 18 13 2 19 14 9 6 3 10 11

Transposition rectangle (plaintext written in rows; columns read top to bottom in key order):

```
Column   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Key      5  1 15 16  8  4  7 17 12 18 13  2 19 14  9  6  3 10 11
     1   F  E  D  O  R  O  F  F  N  E  U  N  S  T  E  I  N  E  H
     2   A  B  E  I  C  H  F  Ü  R  F  R  A  N  K  R  E  I  C  H
     3   A  B  R  A  M  O  W  I  T  S  C  H  G  E  G  E  B  E  N
     4   F  E  D  O  R  O  F  F  G  E  H  T  D  O  R  T  H  I  N
     5   Z  U  R  V  E  R  F  Ü  G  U  N  G  D  O  R  T  I  G  E
     6   N  U  N  S  E  R  E  N  K  O  L  L  E  G  I  U  M  S  A
     7   L  L  E  Z  E  I  T  U  N  G  E  N  F  Ü  R  E  U  C  H
     8   G  R  Ü  N  D  L  I  C  H  N  A  C  H  S  C  H  A  U  E
     9   N  A  B  S  I  C  H  T  L  I  C  H  E  U  N  O  R  D  N
    10   U  N  G  M  A  T  E  R  I  A  L  D  R  I  N  N  O  C  H
    11   M  A  L  S  I  N  A  N  B  E  T  R  A  C  H  T  V  E  R
    12   L  U  S  T  E  K  O  R  R  U  P  T  I  O  N  B  I  T  T
    13   E  N  W  I  R  E  I  N  Z  E  L  L  Ä  N  D  E  R  N  K
    14   E  I  N  E  G  E  L  D  E  R  S  E  N  D  E  N  E  R  S
    15   U  C  H  E  N  G  R  Ö  S  S  E  R  E  S  U  M  M  E  F
    16   Ü  R  U  N  S  S  O  M  I  T  F  Ü  R  A  N  D  E  R  E
    17   B  E  I  B  R  I  L  L  A  N  T  E  N  V  E  R  L  U  S
    18   T  E  W  E  N  N  K  L  E  I  N  E  K  O  H  L  E  N  S
    19   T  Ü  C  K  E  D  R  I  N  H  A  U  P  T  S  Ä  C  H  L
    20   I  C  H  U  N  T  E  R  S  T  Ü  T  Z  U  N  G  P  A  R
    21   T  E  I  P  R  E  S  S  E  A  L  L  E  R  L  Ä  N  D  E
    22   R  W  E  N  I  G  E  R  O  R  G  A  N  I  S  A  T  I  O
    23   N  E  N  S  A  L  A  T  T  S  C  H  E  C  H  E  B  E  R
    24   U  F  T  S  I  C  H  B  A  L  A  B  A  N  O  F  F  A  U
    25   F  T  R  A  G  A  U  F  Z  U  R  I  C  H  B  I  T  T  E
    26   A  N  T  W  O  R  T  G  R  U  S  S  J  E  T  Z  T  T  H
    27   O  M  A  S
```

## r75-0464 — Zusatz, 19 February 1920 (NARA M336 roll 75, frame 0464)
Indicator 27003, 940 letters
Key (25 columns): 1 3 10 24 6 11 12 4 2 16 5 7 14 13 8 20 15 22 17 25 23 18 19 21 9

Transposition rectangle (plaintext written in rows; columns read top to bottom in key order):

```
Column   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Key      1  3 10 24  6 11 12  4  2 16  5  7 14 13  8 20 15 22 17 25 23 18 19 21  9
     1   K  O  N  F  E  R  E  N  Z  H  O  L  L  A  N  D  D  A  N  K  U  N  V  O  R
     2   S  I  C  H  T  I  G  K  E  I  T  D  O  R  T  I  G  E  R  R  E  I  N  G  E
     3   F  A  L  L  E  N  K  L  A  R  A  U  N  D  S  Y  L  V  I  A  V  E  R  H  A
     4   F  T  E  T  H  O  L  L  P  R  E  S  S  E  S  P  R  I  C  H  T  V  O  N  B
     5   R  I  L  L  A  N  T  E  N  V  E  R  K  A  U  F  D  U  R  C  H  U  N  S  E
     6   R  E  U  N  D  V  O  N  Z  W  A  N  Z  I  G  M  I  L  L  I  O  N  E  N  B
     7   E  S  C  H  L  U  S  S  E  X  E  K  U  T  I  V  E  H  I  E  R  A  U  C  H
     8   M  E  R  K  L  I  C  H  E  V  E  R  M  E  H  R  T  E  T  Ä  T  I  G  K  E
     9   I  T  P  O  L  I  Z  E  I  G  E  G  E  N  S  E  K  R  E  T  A  R  I  A  T
    10   B  R  O  N  S  K  I  S  P  H  O  T  O  S  U  N  A  U  F  G  E  K  L  Ä  R
    11   T  E  R  W  E  I  S  E  I  N  I  H  R  E  N  H  Ä  N  D  E  N  V  E  R  M
    12   U  T  U  N  G  D  U  R  C  H  P  O  L  E  N  B  E  I  E  U  C  H  U  N  L
    13   Ä  N  G  S  T  W  U  R  D  E  N  V  E  R  H  A  F  T  E  T  L  E  W  I  U
    14   N  D  A  L  E  X  A  N  D  E  R  B  E  R  I  C  H  T  E  T  O  B  B  E  I
    15   E  U  C  H  S  T  E  N  O  G  R  A  P  H  I  S  T  E  N  S  Y  S  T  E  M
    16   S  T  O  L  Z  E  S  C  H  R  E  Y  O  D  E  R  G  A  B  E  L  S  B  E  R
    17   G  E  R  S  I  N  D  W  Ü  R  D  E  S  T  E  N  O  G  R  A  M  M  E  S  E
    18   N  D  E  N  H  A  B  E  A  U  S  S  I  C  H  T  E  N  A  L  S  B  E  G  L
    19   E  I  T  E  R  E  I  N  E  R  Ä  R  Z  T  L  I  C  H  E  N  M  I  S  S  I
    20   O  N  O  D  E  R  D  E  L  E  G  A  T  I  O  N  A  U  S  W  A  N  D  E  R
    21   E  R  Z  U  E  U  C  H  Z  U  K  O  M  M  E  N  B  I  T  T  E  U  M  M  E
    22   I  N  U  N  G  O  B  E  U  C  H  E  R  W  Ü  N  S  C  H  T  R  A  D  I  O
    23   S  T  A  T  I  O  N  E  N  D  L  I  C  H  A  U  S  G  E  B  A  U  T  F  A
    24   C  H  M  A  N  N  E  N  G  A  G  I  E  R  T  B  E  G  I  N  N  E  N  N  Ä
    25   C  H  S  T  E  W  O  C  H  E  A  U  F  Z  U  N  E  H  M  E  N  W  I  R  B
    26   E  N  Ö  T  I  G  E  N  G  E  L  D  E  R  D  R  I  N  G  E  N  D  F  Ü  R
    27   B  U  L  G  A  R  I  E  N  S  E  R  B  I  E  N  F  R  A  N  K  R  E  I  C
    28   H  D  E  L  E  G  I  E  R  T  E  N  H  I  E  R  W  A  R  T  E  N  T  R  I
    29   E  E  S  T  I  N  E  R  M  I  T  G  E  L  D  I  T  A  L  I  E  N  A  N  G
    30   E  K  O  M  M  E  N  E  R  I  N  W  I  E  N  V  E  R  H  A  F  T  E  T  G
    31   E  L  D  H  I  E  R  G  E  H  T  D  E  M  N  Ä  C  H  S  T  N  A  C  H  I
    32   T  A  L  I  E  N  O  ?  G  A  L  S  K  I  A  U  F  D  E  R  R  E  I  S  E
    33   N  A  C  H  A  M  E  R  I  K  A  M  I  T  G  E  L  D  H  I  E  R  A  N  G
    34   E  K  O  M  M  E  N  D  E  U  T  S  C  H  E  R  E  G  I  E  R  U  N  G  B
    35   E  W  I  L  L  I  G  T  T  A  U  S  C  H  J  O  U  R  N  A  L  I  S  T  E
    36   N  V  O  N  H  I  E  R  F  R  A  N  K  F  Z  E  I  T  U  N  G  B  E  N  Ü
    37   T  Z  T  G  E  L  E  G  E  N  H  E  I  T  D  R  I  N  G  E  N  D  N  Ö  T
    38   I  G  T  Ü  C  H  T  I  G  E  K  R  A  F  T
```

Reading

german.md

# German text (readable, normalized)

## r75-0462-1 — Anfang, 23 December 1919

Flugsendung gut angekommen. Material nicht wiederholen, neues senden. Erwünscht wiederum Handschreiben von Lenin, Trotzki, Zinowiew für Italien, Frankreich. Osipoff bestimmt nicht mehr senden: unzuverlässig, unkonspirativ. Sendet statt ihm einen absolut sicheren Deutschen. Koriniez: Adresse ungültig; er selbst muss von euch abberufen werden, unfähig, schädlich.

## r75-0462-2 — Fortsetzung 2, 23 December 1919

[…] auf eigene Faust nach Schweiz, Moskau gereist. Bericht Italien wahrscheinlich dort erhalten. Er höchst verdächtig. […] Neben Else Kuriere Olga, Hilde aus Riga angekommen, altes Material gebracht. Eine Kurieradresse Berlin: […]zierski, Regensburger Str. 9, Pension von […], absolut sichere. An Kopp, Fasanenstr. 27. Kommissariat verlangt Material; unmöglich. Doppelt senden. Trifft Arrangement Lewin–Feodoroff. Provokation […] jetzt frei.

## r75-0462-3 — Fortsetzung 3, 23 December 1919

Reisen laut Bestimmung. Pochitonoff angeblich Schweiz. Erwarte Mitteilung Ranson. Unbekannt, wem Geld übergeben. Habe mit Sylvia hier verhandelt, Geld gegeben. Brauchen mehr Handschriftliches englisch von ihr. Litwinoff reagiert nicht, weder Kuriere noch Briefe. Sehr wünschenswert Dzierzinskis Vertrauensmann hier. Große Möglichkeiten.

## r75-0462-4 — Fortsetzung 4, 23 December 1919

Sendet Geld! Italien, Frankreich braucht dringend. Gut gehen große Perlen, in England Saphiren. Sekretariat bittet dringend Material. Geld zentralistisch zusenden vor Konferenz. November Sekretariat gewählt: Paul Levi, Bronski, Zetkin, ich Sekretär. Kontakt mit Holland, dort einverstanden. „Kommunistische“ erscheint hier, auch gebe heraus „Russische Korrespondenz“.

## r75-0463-1 — Fortsetzung 5, 23 December 1919

In Wien Filiale geschaffen. Von Carlo Moment keine Nachricht; er arbeitet vorzüglich. Abramowitsch, Paris, war dort. Bereits von hier Verbindung mit allen Ländern. Es geht schön vorwärts. Januar, Februar bestimmt Kongress. Radek wird ausführlich euch berichten. Absolut nötig hier Radek oder Bucharin. Bitte größere Summe, sobald fertig. Kopp momentan kann tatsächlich nicht. Ich heiße jetzt Thomas. Gruß, James.

## r75-0463-2 — Schlussmitteilungen, 25 December 1919

Fedoroffs neun Steine habe ich für Frankreich Abramowitsch gegeben. Fedoroff geht dorthin zur Verfügung unseres dortigen Kollegiums. Alle Zeitungen für euch gründlich nachschauen: absichtliche Unordnung, Material darin. Nochmals: In Anbetracht der Verluste durch Korruption bitten wir, einzelnen Ländern keine Gelder zu senden. Wir ersuchen um eine größere Summe für uns, somit für andere. Bei Brillanten entstehen Verluste, wenn kleine Kohlenstücke darin sind. Hauptsächlich Unterstützung der Parteipresse aller Länder, weniger der Organisationen. Salatt, Tscheche, beruft sich auf Balabanoff. Auftrag auf Zürich [?]. Bitte Antwort. Gruß. Jetzt Thomas.

## r75-0464 — Zusatz, 19 February 1920

Konferenz Holland dank Unvorsichtigkeit Dortiger reingefallen. Klara und Sylvia verhaftet. Holländische Presse spricht von Brillantenverkauf durch Unsere und von zwanzig Millionen. Beschluss Exekutive hier auch. Merkliche vermehrte Tätigkeit Polizei gegen Sekretariat. Bronskis Photos unaufgeklärterweise in ihren Händen. Vermutung: durch Polen bei euch. Unlängst wurden verhaftet Lewi und Alexander. Berichtet, ob bei euch Stenographisten, System Stolze-Schrey oder Gabelsberger, sind; würde Stenogramme senden. Habe Aussichten, als Begleiter einer ärztlichen Mission oder Delegation Auswanderer zu euch zu kommen. Bitte um Meinung, ob euch erwünscht. Radiostation endlich ausgebaut, Fachmann engagiert, beginnen nächste Woche aufzunehmen. Wir benötigen Gelder dringend für Bulgarien, Serbien, Frankreich. Delegierten hier warten. Triestiner mit Geld Italien angekommen, er in Wien verhaftet. Geld hier, geht demnächst nach Italien. O[?]galski auf der Reise nach Amerika mit Geld hier angekommen. Deutsche Regierung bewilligt Tausch Journalisten, von hier Frankfurter Zeitung. Benützt Gelegenheit. Dringend nötig: tüchtige Kraft.

Translation

english.md

# English translation

## r75-0462-1 — Anfang, 23 December 1919

Air consignment arrived safely. Do not repeat material; send new. Again wanted: letters in the hand of Lenin, Trotsky and Zinoviev for Italy and France. Definitely do not send Osipoff any more: unreliable, not conspiratorial. Instead of him send an absolutely reliable German. Koriniez: address void; he himself must be recalled by you; incapable, harmful.

## r75-0462-2 — Fortsetzung 2, 23 December 1919

[…] travelled on his own initiative to Switzerland and Moscow. Report on Italy probably received there. He is highly suspicious. […] Besides Else, the couriers Olga and Hilde have arrived from Riga and brought old material. A courier address in Berlin: […]zierski, Regensburger Strasse 9, boarding house of […], absolutely safe. To Kopp, Fasanenstrasse 27. The Commissariat demands material; impossible. Send in duplicate. The Lewin–Feodoroff arrangement applies. Provocation […] now free.

## r75-0462-3 — Fortsetzung 3, 23 December 1919

Journeys as arranged. Pochitonoff allegedly in Switzerland. Awaiting word from Ranson. Not known to whom the money was handed over. Have negotiated here with Sylvia; money given. We need more handwritten material in English from her. Litvinov does not respond, neither to couriers nor to letters. Dzerzhinsky’s confidential agent here is highly desirable. Great possibilities.

## r75-0462-4 — Fortsetzung 4, 23 December 1919

Send money! Italy and France are in urgent need. Large pearls sell well; in England, sapphires. The Secretariat urgently asks for material. Send money centrally before the conference. In November the Secretariat was elected: Paul Levi, Bronski, Zetkin, myself as secretary. Contact with Holland; agreed there. The Communist appears here; I am also publishing the Russian Correspondence.

## r75-0463-1 — Fortsetzung 5, 23 December 1919

Branch set up in Vienna. No news from Carlo at the moment; he works excellently. Abramowitsch, Paris, was there. Contact already established from here with all countries. Things are going forward well. Congress certainly in January or February. Radek will report to you in detail. Radek or Bukharin absolutely needed here. Please send a larger sum as soon as it is ready. Kopp really cannot at present. My name is now Thomas. Regards, James.

## r75-0463-2 — Schlussmitteilungen, 25 December 1919

I have given Fedoroff’s nine stones to Abramowitsch for France. Fedoroff is going there to be at the disposal of our local council. Examine all newspapers intended for you thoroughly: the disorder is intentional, and material is inside. Once again, in view of losses through corruption, please do not send funds to individual countries. We request a larger sum for ourselves and thus for others. Diamonds lose value when they contain small carbon particles. Support mainly the party press in all countries, and the organizations to a lesser extent. Salatt, a Czech, invokes Balabanoff. Order on Zurich [?]. Please reply. Regards. Now Thomas.

## r75-0464 — Zusatz, 19 February 1920

The conference in Holland failed through the carelessness of people there. Klara and Sylvia arrested. The Dutch press speaks of the sale of diamonds by our people and of twenty million. Executive decision here too. Noticeably increased police activity against the Secretariat. Bronski’s photos inexplicably in their hands. Suspicion: through Poles with you. Lewi and Alexander were arrested recently. Report whether you have stenographers with you, system Stolze-Schrey or Gabelsberger; I would send shorthand notes. I have prospects of coming to you as escort of a medical mission or of a delegation of emigrants. Please give your opinion whether this is welcome to you. Radio station finally built, specialist engaged; we begin receiving next week. We urgently need funds for Bulgaria, Serbia and France. Delegates are waiting here. The man from Trieste with money for Italy has arrived; he has been arrested in Vienna. The money is here and goes to Italy shortly. O[?]galski, on his way to America, has arrived here with money. The German government approves an exchange of journalists, from here the Frankfurter Zeitung. Use the opportunity. Urgently needed: a capable man.

Key: decryption.html, decryption.md

07 Sources

US National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Decimal File 1910–29, file 862.20261, microfilm M336 roll 75, frames 0456–0470 (catalogue record); the images are not reproduced here.
George Lasry, contributed to this repository: the keys, the transcription, the corrected ciphertext, the decryption and the readings, made with Claude agents under his direction.
The State Department’s English translations of five parts, 1920 (frame 0456 and the memorandum on frames 0468–0470).

The keys, the transcription, the corrected ciphertext, the readings and the check are in targets/soviet1919.

Cite this page

George Lasry and Daniel Bourdeau, “Seven courier letters from communists in Germany to Soviet officials in Russia, 1919–20”, Cyphersolver, posted 8 November 2026, https://cyphersolver.com/soviet1919.html.