Rise to power:
Before being appointed to Prime Minister in 1941, Tojo had an extensive, successful military history. In 1933, after periods in Switzerland and Germany, Tojo was appointed to major general, two years after that in 1935, he was appointed head of the Kwantung army's military police. between March 1937 and may 1938, Tojo earned the titles of Lieutenant General and Chief of Staff of the Kwantung army respectively. Later in May, 1938, Tojo was vice minister of war, however, he turned it down so that he could continue his work in the armed services. in early 1941, Tojo was appointed Minister of war by Fuminaro Kondoye. Then on October 16th, 1941, Tojo was appointed to Prime minister by the emperor. While Prime minister, he kept his job as Minister of war.
Prime Minister Tojo and his cabinet ministers outside the Kantei (Prime Minister's Office) upon completing the first cabinet meeting, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan, 18 Oct 1941
Actions Taken During wwii:
One of Tojo's first actions during WWII was ordering the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He had previously ordered pre-emptied strikes on the Soviet Union and China. Tojo had planned many of the attacks on Japan. In 1944, Tojo had realized that Japan had no chance of winning the war, so he stepped down as prime minister. Soon after that, Tojo failed his suicide attempt and then was nursed back to life, only to be brought to America and executed due to the charge of war crimes on both China and America. Tojo accepted full responsibility for his actions during the war, but he asked the Americans to be humane to the Japanese who had just suffered the attack of two atomic bombs.
The wreckage of the USS Arizona ablaze after the attack of Pearl Harbor
Hideki Tojo after his attempted suicide during his arrest
Tojo getting executed by hanging on 23 December 1948.