Historical Document
Boris Hagelin — career history (NSA Friedman Collection, REF ID A61628)
Typescript history of Boris Hagelin's life and business, from the Nobel oil fields to AB Cryptoteknik and the M-209.
Historical Document
Typescript history of Boris Hagelin's life and business, from the Nobel oil fields to AB Cryptoteknik and the M-209.
I il1fl~·,,._J •_______1~~~ ~~ \~.CS~t!.L, ~~~~~) 1----- ~ / Boris Caesar Wilhelm Hagelin was born in southern Russia f(. W • H.r'lC1f'• '"'°I His fathe~ was employed by the Nobel brothers as in 1892. ma··· nager of their oil fields and ~ refine9es~. ta· an.d_rnnrin.g. hya. a.i ~ Q,13,&.~t!~p.\J ~""''\..,.~~ """'..s.;~-"~~) l,_.· fe ·becal\e; an investor i~and"'C)>ns'!l-qeneral J't ~' 't'1 · ':J .A~ ~ ~ ~ J::llL_ ~ ~-~-u....w£,wv.x;-r. '°Cj.'Y1't.99tctpt;L1 f1f 11 '~ (...(., • '-Ju. (!.,(A , l..Lt. '1:l.-4,.i A_ ~. • -~ ... ~ ~ d ~ (.4.,..6 l ; ~ ~ ~ If, ,d, A. (!,,._,~ .., ' ~ • B. Cryptograph was started in Stockholm for the purpose of developing and marketing inventions and ciphering machines made by the Swedish engineer A. G. Damm. It was expected that this equipment would be used in military and diplomatic J applications. (~ Boris Hagelin, who live2,1'\and obtained his higher education~c.(.,~ ~..,-joined A•. B. ~rypt~graph~in_l922~ ~ag~lin held a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. The practical experience Bagelin brought ~ll·-1 A. B. Cryptograph included six years employment with ASEA (Sweden's General Electric) and one year with Standard Oil in the United l States. ~ "L.11~..... ..J.u.-i.-. ~ ,. ~ - 'l'i1coage--h-i~orkiffaqei'fnw aieeover-ed,.that the Swedish military was considering the purchase of a German Enigma machine, .anntsH~7~/c~ ...~ l.-rro•~•,.1-. modified 1a:Be-of tM~irm's equipments (probably the Bl, a problem-riddled cipher machine ~.-4iaf1l' putting it into competition with the Enigma. He offered this device, designated B-21, to the PL 86-36/50 USC 3605 • Declassified and approved for release bv NSA on 11-13-2014 pursuant to E.O. 13529 .~ REF ID:A61628 Swedish Arm~which subsequently placed a sizeable order in 1926. .fl'/J The U.S. Army was also becoming aware of Hagelin's machines. Their interest resulted from the development in Europe of more than one series of mechanical and electromechanical ciphering devices comparable to the Hebern machine. The rotor principle had been developed not only by Arthur Scherbius (Enigma).) but also by Mr. Damm ~ttr..-0amm1.s I.( IAl!flf/"/f'l~ j n rotors ere J::llrc"" V\used -c01nmel!ci&i::i.y inA a machine designed ii~ ...w_ . ._ : .........t·~·-\t~~~ .....~r. ---..... :.:==!.: . . by Boris - ..,.,,...~ Mr. Damm's death in 1927.. provided Bagelin with the opportunity . to purchase A. B. Cryptograph. .,.. Aktiebolaget CryptoJekn~k. The firm was reorganized as As ·,t' c.crh"'"'''"cAins.. de.s''"' In the following years revolutionary concepts~were achieved. The breakthrough came in 19}4 with the completely new~~c°itines:, designated "-\ the C-series. $ff,> In 1934 the French requested that a pocket sized cipher machine be developed that would print cipher text in five letter groups and the plain text in normal word lengths at a rate of 25 letters per minute. k>~ czypE~r.aphi-£" To fill this reques;, ,aip, Hagel in developed the C-36. 0 . ~·~ .. . _[ .,..ri::~ ~ ~ f\ Friedman and H':Pl:in had bee development of );l',('B-211Jbut · n close contac_;,pe-g~rd/ / ~~· . was only in 19_;;..-t1iat Ha2711n visited ~n in Wash" gton and demzns ated it ~.flim his co eagues. The ~ . iscussions wer ostly exp,rator ~ ,...iC1 ~ nd but endship bet~n Fr' dman and dea~ ~) . ,,.,,. .. ...:--· -~-" ........ -~ • ... authorities regarding the C-36. j ~l~ f. I1 ----------. In 1935, Hagelin began corresponding with ~merican cryptologic I .I ---------·-----..........- --~·---- During the course of communication, Friedman offered some suggestions to improve the C-36. ~")-LU.~ F..d b\Ut.-t~!q ;/Jll'41 OA JO d 1 i ,4 i-11~ ·~ /i'*i.¥1< Hagelin \ ~ red~signed his C-36 incorporating -E-he- c.ha-nges, l\call"!..ng. it the 1 \ M-209. () l I I - r<"'"' ./ & :lrt ~ ~ ~tt;a.C-4 i._,_,_,.~ ~~ '··--~;~~:-- Early in 1940 when Germany invaded Norway, Hagelin decided that it would be in his best interest to come to the u.s. At the time hostili;i~r~~' Hagelin had been designing the finishing touches~to•the M-209. He had a couple of dismantled machines and a set of manufacturer's blueprints. In his determination that the machines be delivered to America, Hagelin)~a his wife, Anne, embarked on a risky trip across Germany, carrying his mac_~in~ and.blueprints in a diplomatic courier bag. They reached New York on the last ship to leave Genoa, Italy. In the meantime, the U.S. Army insisted on having more machines for testing so Hagelin arranged to have fifty of the ciphering devices smuggled out of Sweden and ,.,,,, into the u. s. ~>S Before the M-209 was accepted for use in the u.s. military, Friedman, Technical Director of the Signal Intelligence Service, turned in an unfavorable report on the machine, as he believed that although its cryptosecurity was theoretically quite good, it had a low degree of security if improperly used. However, he was overruled because, • ••• neither the Signal Intelligence Service nor the Signal Corps Laboratories at ~Monmouth had developed anything )9at wa~ better than the Hagelin machine or even as good.• ~ . . .. . . - .. The Army adopted. the_ M-~0.9 as its medium level cryptographic • system. More than i4o,ooo wer~ .... military units fro.; division to ~ ~he ! M-209 was practically identical to the c-28 (improved c-36) 1sE ... manufactured and sold on the open m~rket by Bagelin in various parts of ~he world.ft its operations in theuCOMIN¥"Vrrri~~AWSA · . -had knowledge· ·ort:n'irelrtensive··use...Pf.. the ...~.JB.:by. the....f.or-e-iqQ ..g.c"CLe rnmen ts • ( 15 ) . ..- - .· ---· In 1944 Hagelin and his wife returned to Sweden since their operations were concentrated in Stockholm. Unfortunately for Hagelin~Swedish law enabled the government to appropriate inventions that i~for national defense. Because of this, Hagelin moved his4operation to Zug, Switzerland in 1948. In ~o ~c.A. ~ ~ ,,I 4..,.111 -~~ .JA. r.i..' 1959 Bagelill_Aiff:rpora~ ~ as Crypto Akitengellschaft, Crypto A. G. ~) --- REF ID:A61628 In October 1946 Friedman visited Hagelin at his home -----J in zug1 Switzerland and toured Hagelin's office where they (' ~ :::k::c:v::a:u:~::::9:a::e::~ll~:~:5p:::o::~:::::::~s;~;d ~~·~..,,,;~ During Friedman's trip to erypto A. G. Friedman examined old CJ'1~~(~ models of machines and while at the plant Friedman observed ~ 1 . . . . that there were good feelings between ~ . 10 and his employees. On Friedman's departure he recalls that "I had almost tearful farewell with the Hagelins. They are such charming people and I hope they will come to Washington this spring as Boris and Anne promise. 11 (~) --- -- -· -- -·· --..... \it --· .~vb-~, After~close of hostilities,~ Hagelin&:sear:eh.Q4.,i:rnpr.gl!ing. . C-38 (or M-209) and to produce the new cipher machines commercial e!Ploita~tion.Through informal contact between 1 F~ . W~,,J.. ~J.._lfq FSA)and Hagelin) om#'of IYagelin's new ideas for U'(f rv· devices came to the attention of AFSA and were studied to ascertain their security. The results of such studies were not communicated to Hagelin. ~~;fifflcbk . . . . a modified M-209 incorporating a new keying mechanism was received and studiedLby AFSA. In addition to ll, t2. C!t.:trfvi"e/<nL" the modified M-209, '6;!~•= ~. :th had plans to produce several new cipher machines of considerable security employing the new keying mechanism. Hagelin filed patent applications in the u.s., Switzerland, France, and Italy. 'l'Qe.S~,.,.ee& of,~ new (.C.. and more complex cipher machines could have .Efte profound effect REF ID: A6162 B • 'e03.3(h)(2) PL 86-36/50 USC 3605 became the subject of discussion within AFSA soon after U.S. receipt of the modified M-209. Friedman, becaus e of his long acquaintance with llag•lin, informed the Director, AFSA. Friedm ~~~~~~~~---~ AFSA, presented the matter at a?,_(APSA the chairman to contact the Director, Central Intelligence\ Agency After a number of meetings among Mr. Bagelin and his o.s. st....t co*nselJfMr.JBeddenf', CIA representatives and the Director, APSA, Mr. Bedden submitted a draft agreement on behalf _of his client)Mr. Bagelin. - APSAC decided that they could not endorse WC: However APSAC indicated that they wouldn't object .te all REF ID: A6162 8 E0 3.3(h)( 2 ) PL 86"-36/50 USC 3605 ······························ ... \\\\\ being developed by Bagelin. ! '°lM• f ~.\.~d ~~ S-...~te. A evised draft Memorandum of Agreement was drawn up E. by Mr. Becker of the CIA whichJin essenie and thatlwith regard to off-line ...._c-ry_p_t_o_g_r_a_p_h_i_c__m_a_c_h_i_ne_s_J_H_a_g_e__l_i_.n had ~ competition. (11) 7 REF ID: A6162 Bt=Q 3.3(h)(2) PL 86,36/50 USC 3605 France had requested that Bagelin refrain from selling. his C-52 to Egypt. Hagelin gently complained to Friedman that~ although the French imposed restrictions, he was glad to conform with their wishes because they gave him substantial orders; I offered then would hardly be adequate. -. ~ .. .. - - \\ In late 1957 Friedman again visited Hagelin in Zurich and Hagelin insisted that Friedman be a houseguest. Bagelin OGA -REF ID :A61628 OGA '! In January 1958, Friedman again visited Boris Hagelin and his family in Zurich. In their professional discussions, UM,~~ and Friedman . . . ' U.S. patent on the nElectric . '99i'-Miio discussed Hagelins switching Device for Ciphering Apparatu~n Friedman was surprised at tlW:s-because this patent covered the re-entry principle in which-wee-first~ electric rotor machines, a principle • ··'--' ~ ~ 'Zif.s. :-.·~·"ti -111~in 1940. This concept had been documented and application" htt6 ~4;tl I'\ ~ for patentnfiled.~ All papers connected with the application had been placed in secrecy. The patent office should never Cl\. have issued '&ll11f patent on the re-entry principle, a matter All.t.\\..,. . Friedman planned to investigate. ~-is was not informed of Ui.t. IJM;:1t'~·s any o:E tea pat.en.t-matter or its--:ir-rregu·lar~it.y·.r Hagelin told Di4.,0..c-ccl~. ' Friedman that while the u.s. granted him the patent, the Japanese government declined to do so. ' (24) ui\A_e-"'-- ., • While in Switzerland, Friedman took advantage of the opportunity to visit Hagelin's plant and see new equipment models and developments. During the visit Friedman became 1 ~~ ~ aware of Hagelins knowledge regarding equipment radiation threat. (uS) REF ID:A61628 8,..,.1~~~. Jr" Friedman was worried because~{~was putting out instructional --r literature about cryptographic communications, insecure cryptoBoris Hagelin, son, told Friedman who was having some problem that U.S. authorties were in a better position to control this '1 sort of thing than he was. (2') ""'1" \~ ,J rt Not only was Friedman concerned about -Beile lack of discretion, he was also aware of new problems coming over the horizon. Hagelin had recently developed a cipher machine the size of a pack of cigarettes. Friedman saw another potential threat to U.S. SIGINT production. (2#) . ~ -•\' ,l,,. ,,:>~·~" . '\ r" ,.c < During this trip Friedman found out quite by accid~ent that !,..•..(~..~· · "\ ..,j'...t:v... . Hagelin had plans to put out three versions of severa 1 ~~....t.. machines either i~ production or 1 never discussed ~with Friedman. J?' development. by an employee of Mr. HagelinJ. The three versions of the o,tJ Hagelin himself Instead, it was mentioned to him machines would be designated as "best;' "second bestb':'\ . age 1 in bes~' and "third The quality rating reflected the amount of security afforded by or built into the machine concerned. Radiation from ..t~d equipments had been discovered by Siemens and the information 1 ""I passed along to Hagelin. (2$) The T-55 cryptoprinter had three versions ready for sale in 1958. Version 1 was for the West, NATO and countries friendly to ) .,.. ID: A6H2li3(h)(2) them. I/ PL 86-36/50 USC 3605 .- A.'-'. Q,.yptoteknik It had the best features that erypte .'-lr:''&: could produceJ_.,u.s fully protected against radiation_, and had total usage flexibility. Version 2 was for friendly neutral countries li.ke Finland. neither fully protected against radiation nor flexible. It was Version 3 - was for countries of doubtful orientation or countries leaning toward the USSR. (j~) ~ ~oe.re. c,Nt nit CJ/4-ll"'i}r,...-\? In the summer of 1958, Hagelin confidelll.in Friedman that he ':,#ti.. ""'°"~ . sons' relationship with Mr. Barlow (.not 4e concerned about his ~ --17 further identified). The worry was that Barlow was influencing Mlel\ilX• I ~ ·-so.. with regard to Hagelins projectsJ\business interests. Friedman requested ~o~th the Director and Deputy Director, NSA 1 to determine I s"" 1t,.J.or.u'.> the nature o nei-s relationship. Friedman confided to Hagelin that f.AU.t14H_.... - . added that he had something against him and future correspondence 1 irf,iA between Friedman and'll1J>i.s' had to be purely personal greetings. Hagelin mentioned to Friedman that Barlow, during his last visit to Zug,did not show any interest in HagelinL work. . that Barlow had been taken in by ..'ftl.'~ la tales of woe. Boris felt In August 1958 Friedman informed Hagelin that the relationship .J.iu.\.1 .. y ~\"':~""' 'IN .. ~ VW1 between Bo and Barlow;t;l.;'-$ocial in nature. However,Friedman REF ID:~6162~ iEO 3,3(b)(2) PL 86-36/SOUSC 3605 A ' • ·. 1'trw~,;.}sr. \ few years prior to Friedmans death he confided in BOF-i-s some details regarding his relationship with NSA. They shared many problems with each other, often personal .aad-...pr.ivate in nature. • As evidence of Friedman~ regard for his old friend Boris:r'F~iedman sent to Hagelin a letter of introduction for .___ _ _ _ _.....I/president of the I I Friedman requested that Hagelin provide! lwith unclassified material to aid him in his research which eventually resulted William F. Friedman and Boris Hagelin continued to correspond until Friedman~ death in 1969. -- -- - ....... - - _,_ ·. 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