WWII German 'Enigma' Coding Machine up for Sale An "Enigma" encrypting machine used to send coded military messages from Nazi Germany during World War II is going up for sale in London. Auction house Bonhams says the machine, encased in an oak carrying box and dating from 1944, is expected to fetch up to 50,000 pounds ($79,775) when it goes under the hammer on Oct. 29. The "Enigma" machines, which scramble messages into codes, were best known for their use by the German military during WWII. Many models were made and there were complex additions to the machines during the war, but British code breakers managed to crack the "Enigma" code. Jon Baddeley, a specialist at Bonhams, said Friday the model on sale was special because all its parts were original, unlike other such machines.