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Before the Manhattan Project, the general public was largely unaware of the development of atomic weapons. The project was shrouded in secrecy, involving over 120,000 people, yet only a small group of scientists and officials knew the full details. Even Vice-President Truman was not informed about the project until he became President.

While the concept of atomic energy was known in scientific circles, the specific efforts to develop an atomic bomb were kept highly confidential. It wasn't until the bombing of Hiroshima in August 1945 that the existence and power of atomic weapons became widely known.