The Codebreaker Who Hacked Hitler

Gordon Welchman was a key figure among the original group of elite codebreakers who played a vital role in the Allies’ victory over the Nazis during World War II. Despite his significant contributions, he remains an overlooked genius of Bletchley Park. This documentary, filmed extensively at Bletchley Park—the hub of wartime codebreaking efforts—showcases the now-deserted buildings where countless individuals dedicated themselves to deciphering enemy codes. After the war, Welchman relocated to the United States to be at the forefront of the burgeoning computer industry. Newly declassified documents reveal that Welchman’s case reached British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s attention, prompting inquiries in the House of Commons following his premature death. Welchman’s influence endures, as his groundbreaking work in traffic analysis laid the groundwork for today’s secret surveillance systems, particularly the use of metadata, a concept brought to light by whistleblower Edward Snowden.