The man who invented the computer

Fortunately for those of us who celebrate the Allied victory in WW2 Zuse was unable to get a hearing from the Nazi authorities:

[1939] Then Zuse's friend, Schreyer, attempted to get authorization to work on the computer for air defense, but when he suggested that research and development might take two years, the official in charge exclaimed, "What do you mean, after we've already won the war!" p 71

After Germany surrendered, Zuse heard that Albert Speer had suggested to Hitler that the development of the computer might aid in the war effort. "Hitler is said to have replied that he didn't need any computing machine, he had the courage of his soldiers." p. 119

Smiley took the quote from the papers of Zuse.

Smiley's book chronicles examples of genius, perfidy and official stupidity.

As it turned out the Germans declared war on the United States on December 11, 1941. According to Turing's biographer Andrew Hodges, when British Intelligence then attempted to share information derived from the operations at Bletchley Park about German U-boat locations in the Atlantic with the U. S. Navy – in particular, "the operation of fifteen U-boats off the American coast at the declaration of war" – the navy ignored the information, resulting in huge losses in the Atlantic at the same time the United States was deploying many vessels to the Pacific. p. 85

I am sure that Jane Smiley's book would fascinate me even if I had never been acquainted with any of the protagonists in the book. Her descriptions of the technology are outstanding. Her account of the milieus in Budapest, Iowa and other widespread parts of the world offer an explanation of the influences of culture and place on the protagonists. Her description of the ways that power misunderstands and squelches genius is a lesson in a continuing historical process.

Even though an investigation verified that Mauchly had stolen the basic ideas for the digital computer from Atanasoff he won the public relations battle and is still listed as an inventor of the digital computer. I feel sad that a man I worked for, admired and trusted was a liar and thief.