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Photos: Colossus gets cracking after 60 years
Bletchley Park's code-cracker gets a new lease of life...

By Gemma Simpson

Published: Friday 16 November 2007

The Colossus code-cracking computer is up and running for the first time in more than 60 years.

Colossus is widely recognised as one of the world's first digital computers. It is kept in its original location at Bletchley Park, where it cracked Nazi codes during World War II and played a key role in the Allied victory.

It was one of the first ever programmable computers, featured more than 2,000 valves, and was the size of a small lorry.

It is now being used to crack new messages enciphered using the same system employed by the German high command during World War II.

Pictured are the Wrens using a Colossus Mark II computer in the 1940s.

Photo credit: Bletchley Park Trust