Summary

Chapter Three "The Most Difficult Problem" describes the events beginning in September 1940 when international threats loomed everywhere. It centers around the code-breaking challenges surrounding Germany's growing occupation, and potential nefarious alliances with Axis leaders. Of primary importance at this time was cracking the Japanese cipher machines as Japan was proving to be a formidable force on the international playing field. William Friedman headed up the Army's code-breaking operation and served as the principal in efforts to break Japanese codes and ciphers. He was a master at what he did, and thus recruited the best and brightest men, primarily with youthful candidates with academic backgrounds, to join his team. Also, given his penchant for working with young, bright women, he recruited a number of talented and accomplished women, some of whom admired his equally talented wife, Elizebeth.

Mundy describes another notable codebreaker, Genevieve Grotjan...