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Today in History: Klaus Fuchs convicted for spying on Manhattan Project

3/1/2026

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Summary

Story summary

On March 1, 1950, Klaus Fuchs, a German-British physicist, was convicted of violating the Official Secrets Act. In a trial lasting under 90 minutes, he was found guilty of espionage for passing crucial information from the Manhattan Project to the Soviet Union during World War II. Fuchs later served nine years in prison before moving to East Germany.

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Story summary

On March 1, 1950, Klaus Fuchs, a German-British physicist, was convicted of violating the Official Secrets Act. In a trial lasting under 90 minutes, he was found guilty of espionage for passing crucial information from the Manhattan Project to the Soviet Union during World War II. Fuchs later served nine years in prison before moving to East Germany.