Klaus Fuchs Joins the Manhattan Project

In December 1943, Klaus Fuchs arrives in the United States to work on the Manhattan Project, where he collaborates with leading scientists to develop the nuclear bomb more rapidly than the Germans. The urgency of their work is underscored by General Leslie Groves, who stresses security and compartmentalization, insisting that the scientists work independently without knowledge of each other's roles. Despite the secrecy, Fuchs feels the pressure of needing to report back to the Soviet Union about the progress and methods being employed in the U.S. His initial experience in America is contrasted by the abundance of resources, such as fresh food, which highlights the effects of wartime rationing he left behind in Britain.