Page 204 - The Secret War in the Italian front in WWI (1915-1918)

THE SECRET WAR ON THE ITALIAN FRONT IN WWI (1915 – 1918)

help! This episode confirms that a fundamental part of codes and ciphers security was an adequate
training for code operators.

Picture 11

coMMenTs on The InITIal acTIvITIes of luIgI sacco
The notebook clearly shows Luigi Sacco’s work during those months when he was still chief of the
radio interception service and he could consequently devote only part of his time to cryptanalysis.
However, he managed to set up from nothing a cryptographic branch and was already able to
complete a list of important enemy codes and ciphers and to decrypt also other types of cryptograms
in addition to those listed above, as shown in the next chapters. Given that he had no previous
experience in this field, the results achieved look like a miracle and show his extraordinary logical
skills and his tenacity.
The foundations for the most significant successes that the Cryptographic Unit would reap in
late 1916 and in the following years, were laid over the job made in those months. Sacco’s most
important book, the Manual of Cryptography, stemmed from that experience.

ocTober/noveMber 1916

The letters that Sacco regularly wrote from Codroipo to his wife Cecilia include some passages
helpful to reconstruct the story of the transfer to Rome of the cryptographic group. In a letter dated
Codroipo 20 October 1916 he wrote: “I have just come back from the drinking-party I threw my
colleagues as a farewell […] I am actually a little sorry to leave Codroipo, where I met kind local
people and officers […]”.
In a letter dated Rome 2 November 1916 he wrote:

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