E49 - Enigma from the other side

Bletchley Park

History

4.8 • 177 Ratings

🗓️ 11 August 2016

⏱️ 55 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

August 2016

Hear from a German Enigma operator for the first time in the August 2016 episode of the Bletchley Park Podcast, Enigma from the other side.

Sharing her unique story as part of Bletchley Park’s Oral History Project, Irmgard Enge, later Copley, tells how she was part of a secret operation to make sure the Allies did not find out how badly German aeroplanes and munitions factories were being damaged by bombs. She also recalls friendly - and less friendly - French people living near the air base where she was posted.

Once the war had ended, Irmgard reluctantly agreed to go to a dance with her friend. She hadn’t wanted to go because there would be British soldiers there and she didn’t want to dance with the enemy. But her friend persuaded her and there she met her husband, an English soldier.

Also in this month’s episode, we meet a man who grew up just beyond the boundary fence of Bletchley Park during World War Two. He joined a long queue in the rain to have treasures valued for the BBC antiques show, Flog It. The show’s host, Paul Martin, reveals which items he tries to persuade people to keep, going somewhat against the programme’s underlying principle.

Last but not least, change is afoot at the hugely successful 1940s Boutique. The day long workshop and tutorial is opening its doors to customers who want a spot of pampering, without the DIY. As well as workshops on how to create the iconic looks of the 1940s and 1950s, the experts themselves will be styling customers’ hair and make-up; all in the tranquil surroundings of the Victorian mansion which became the site of some of WW2’s most secret work.

Thanks to The Three Belles for the music in this episode, you can find them at www.thethreebelles.com

Visit Bletchley Park. It happened here. Book now.

#BPark, #Bletchleypark, #Enigma, #WW2Veteran, #History, #Retro, #FlogIt

Transcript

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0:00.0	The
0:07.0	The From the home of the co-breakers and the birthplace of modern computing, this is the Bletchley Park podcast.
0:43.5	Welcome to the August 2016 episode of the Bletchley Park podcast, Enigma from the other side.
0:47.5	This month, for the first time, we hear from a German enigma operator.
0:51.0	Ermgard Enger joined the Air Force when she turned 21.
0:53.7	The alternative was to work in a munitions factory. After three months training
0:55.3	in codes and teleprinters, she was posted to an airbase in France. From there, she sent top-secret
1:01.1	messages about planes crashing on their way to and from bombing raids of Britain. It was crucial to the
1:07.2	German war machine that the Allies didn't find out how many German bombers crashed
1:11.5	or how bad things were at the munitions factories, which were also being bombed.
1:17.0	We'll hear about her work, social life, and how friendly or otherwise French people were to the German
1:22.4	military, as well as what happened when the air base she was at was bombed.
1:27.0	Also this month will take you to BBC Floggetts Valuation Day at Bletchley Park,
1:31.5	which might just have been the wettest in 15 years of making the show.
1:36.1	Antiques from intricate commemorative spoons up to furniture bigger than its owner
1:40.8	and even a sink were brought to the mansion for valuation by the long-running
1:45.4	shows experts. And we met a man who grew up just outside the boundary fence of Bletchley Park
1:50.9	during World War II. But first, change is afoot at the 1940s boutique. Just in case you
1:57.5	haven't heard been talking about this event before, it's a day-long workshop
2:01.1	in hair and beauty techniques of the 1940s and 50s.
2:05.1	The hostess with the mostest and teacher is Sarah Dunn of Sarah's do-wop-doos, an expert in vintage
2:11.2	glamour.
	...

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