Rare WWII German Enigma machine sells for over $250,000

By Charlie Fenton

A rare World War II German Enigma machine has sold for more than $254,500 at auction.

Enigma machines were used by the Nazis to encrypt and decrypt secret military, commercial, and diplomatic information.

During the war it is believed as many as 50,000 were manufactured, but following their defeat in 1945 many were destroyed.

Experts estimate only around 300 are still in existence.

Though unbeknownst to Hitler and the Germans, the code was broken by a team led by British mastermind Alan Turing in 1940.

This particular machine, sold at Bonhams Auction House in London, is a three-rotor Heimsoeth & Rinke Enigma I Cipher Machine, dating back to 1941.

And following an auction it was sold for $254,500.

It is one of only around 186 of its type in existence, according to experts.

The machine was previously in the collection of former Romanian diplomat Ion Nicolescu and has been displayed in several museums.

The Allies' attempts to crack the secret code were later turned into a film, "The Imitation Game," starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Turing, as well as Keira Knightley.