What was the Manhattan Project and what role did it play in World War II?

What was the Manhattan Project and what role did it play in World War II?

The Manhattan Project was a top-secret research and development project during World War II that aimed to develop the first atomic bomb. It was initiated by the United States in response to fears that Nazi Germany was also working on atomic weapons. The project played a crucial role in the war as it successfully produced the atomic bombs that were later dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, leading to Japan's surrender and the end of World War II.