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Government Code and Cypher School: Commercial Section: Reports of Plain Language...
Description and record details
| Reference | HW 29 |
|---|---|
| Title | Government Code and Cypher School: Commercial Section: Reports of Plain Language and Public Code Messages |
| Date | 1938-1945 |
| Description | This series comprises summary reports by the Commercial Section of commercial messages originated in enemy and neutral countries. Two notable topics stand out: German efforts to obtain wolfram and iron ore from Spain; and the attempts by Japan to obtain new technology and products from Germany. Reports were initially circulated to the Ministry of Economic Warfare, the Board of Trade, the Information Branch of the Censorship and the three service ministries; other ministries were added later. |
| Related material |
For records of the Ministry of Economic Warfare see FO 837 |
| Separated material |
The first reports were largely experimental and have not survived. |
| Held by | The National Archives, Kew |
| Former reference in its original department | CS file series |
| Legal status | Public Record(s) |
| Language |
English French |
| Creator |
Government Code and Cypher School, Commercial Section, 1938-1945 |
| Physical description | 329 file(s) |
| Access conditions | Open |
| Immediate source of acquisition |
In 2000-2004 Government Communications Headquarters |
| Accumulation dates | 1938 to 1945 |
| Accruals | Series is not accruing |
| Selection and destruction information | All surviving messages from the outbreak of the war have been preserved. |
| Administrative/ biographical background | The Commercial Section was set up in 1938. It moved location four times: from London to Bletchley at the outbreak of war and back to London in 1939, because of pressure on space at Station X; in September 1940 to a house some miles from Bletchley; and back to London in May 1942 as part of the Civil Branch of the school. The section was closed down in August 1945. |
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