Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Decoding The Zimmermann Note
Decoding The Zimmermann 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
A B 2 E 5 R L
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)
Name _______________________________ Date ____________________________ Hour __________
What does the message say? Write the decoded message here
Name _______________________________ Date ____________________________ Hour __________
Answer Key:
"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
"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