Decoding the “Zimmerman Note”



Decoding the “Zimmerman Note”

Introduction: Between 1914 and the spring of 1917, the European nations engaged in the conflict we know as World War I. during this time the United States remained neutral. Events in early 1917 would change this. In January of 1917, British cryptographers decoded a telegram from German foreign minister to Mexico, Von Eckhardt. It was this message, the “Zimmermann Note” that would draw the United States into war.

Directions: In this activity you will decode the first half of the “Zimmermann Note” using a simple substitution code, in this code system each letter in the alphabet each of the numbers from 1 to 9 appears in the matrix of the grid (see GRID). Each letter in the grid is replaced by two letters in the coded message. The first letter in the message is from the vertical axis and the second letter is from the horizontal axis.

For Example: If “DG” were the first two letters of the code, you would find the letter “D” on the vertical axis and the letter “G” on the horizontal axis. Trace them across the grid to their intersection which will end at the letter “A”.

To decode the “Zimmermann Note”, begin by grouping each set of two letters and continue this through the entire message. As you locate each letter on the grid, you should write the letter above the pair of code letters to which it corresponds. NOTE the code letters are arbitrarily arranged in groups of five letters. Some letter pairs will carry over from word to word. Also, there are no punctuation marks.

Decryption Grid- Ex. Pairs of letters “FG” reads as 1st letter vertical, 2nd letter horizontal

| |A |D |F |G |V |X |

|D |I |9 |N |A |1 |C |

|F |3 |D |4 |F |6 |G |

|G |7 |H |8 |J |0 |K |

|V |M |O |P |Q |S |T |

|X |U |V |W |X |Y |Z |

*Vertical-Something positioned up and down rather than from side to side (Ex. Going straight up)

* Horizontal-Something at right angles to the vertical; parallel to level ground (ex. Goes right to left)

THE ZIMMERMANN NOTE

(The First Half)

GGDGD FXADG AVXVD VDDDV DDDVG A

VAAFX GDADX VDDXD AVXXV

VXVDX DVDDF AFDXG XGDDG AVFDV X

XFAFD ADFVX AFDFF DVXVD AAAFF XDADF VDDFV XGDAF FGDAA

VVVVX VDFGF GAFAA AVXAD GAVXV XADFA VAFVV VXAVD ADXVX

AFFDV VXAAA VADGA VDADF AFXFD GAVFG DGAVA FXFAF GDVDV

FAFVX VDGXA FAFVF VXGDA FXADF DAVXA FFDVV VXDGV XAFVV

DFAFX AVXAV DGAXD AFGVX GDDAV VDGVX VXAFV AVFVX DAVVD

FVDVX VVXAD XDXAF VVVVF GXAAX XFAFV FAVVD VFVDV VAFDG

DFDGA XAXDA DGDFD XAFXF DAVXG DVAAF XGDAD XVDVA DGGXA

FXFDG AVVXV DFXAF VXGDA FAVVA DGGXA FVFAF DGDXA FVXVD

FXAFV XGDAF AVFXA FDFAF AVVDX AVVFG DADFD GDFDX DADGA

XVVXA VFVFV DAVVX DGDFF DDGDF XADFF DAFAV VVVXD GDFFD

DADFF XVDDF VDXAA VVFDG AVVXV XGDDG VXVAA FXGDA DXVDD

AVVVX VDAVA FVXDG GXAFA XVDVV VXVXA FAVAV DAVXV DAVXV

DADFV XAFXG DGVVD FAFXF VAAFX GDADX VDDGD FFDDG AVDAX

XVDDF DGVXG DAFVV AFVXV XAXAF VAAFD FVXDA DFFDA FVXDG

DAAXD AVVAX AFFGV XVXVD XVVDX A

XXDAV AVAAF AVVAD GDFDF

FXAFA VVADG DFAFV AAADG VVVVX V

Answer Key:

Decoded Abridged Portion: (From Above)

"We intend to begin on the first of February unrestricted submarine warfare. We shall endeavor in spite of this to keep the United States of America neutral. In the event of this not succeeding, we make Mexico a proposal of alliance on the following basis: make war together, make peace together, generous financial support and an understanding on our part that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The settlement in detail is left to you. Signed, ZIMMERMANN

Zimmermann Note: (Unabridged)

"We intend to begin on the first of February unrestricted submarine warfare. We shall endeavor in spite of this to keep the United States of America neutral. In the event of this not succeeding, we make Mexico a proposal of alliance on the following basis: make war together, make peace together, generous financial support and an understanding on our part that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The settlement in detail is left to you. You will inform the President of the above most secretly as soon as the outbreak of war with the United States of America is certain and add the suggestion that he should, on his own initiative, invite Japan to immediate adherence and at the same time mediate between Japan and ourselves. Please call the President's attention to the fact that the ruthless employment of our submarines now offers the prospect of compelling England in a few months to make peace." Signed, ZIMMERMANN

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What does the message say? Write the decoded message here

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