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Tojo Hideki was born
Hideki Tojo (born Eiku Tojo) was born in Kojimachi District (now Chiyoda), Tokyo, Japan to the Japanese Army infantry Lieutenant (later Lieutenant General) Hidenori Tojo
eldest son in a family of samurai descent. -
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A lifetime of Tojo Hideki
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Army cadet school. 1st school
Tojo entered Army Cadet school -
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Tojo's Academic and military studies
Tojo entered military school in 1899, following in the footsteps of his father, a professional military man who served as a lieutenant colonel in the Sino-Japanese War and as a major general in the Russo-Japanese War. Tojo likewise saw service, though briefly, in the latter war. In 1915 he graduated with honors from the army war college -
Military Academy
Tojo entered the Japanese military academy -
Graduation and first commissione
Tojo completed the courses at the military academy and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the infantry. -
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Continued studying abroad in Europe
Was sent abroad for 3 years (1919-1922) to study in Europe. After his return he served as an instructor in military science at the war college. -
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Tojo's rise to power
Tojo was hardworking and become known as "Kamisori" (the razor) for the sharp, impatient , and decisive qualities he possesed. manifesting those qualities helped him rise rapidly through military hierarchy. -
Pormoted to Lieutenant genral. preparing for war
Promoted to lieutenant general, Tojo became chief of staff of the Kwantung Army in Manchuria, where he worked effectively to mobilize Manchuria's economy and strengthen Japan's military readiness in the event that war broke out with the Soviet Union -
named chief of staff
Hideki Tojo was named the chief of staff of Kenkichi Ueda (Japanese Kwantung Army in northeastern China). -
Vice minister of War
he was recalled from field service to become vice-minister of war, a position in which he pressed resolutely for preparations that would allow Japan to wage a two-front war against both China and the Soviet Union. -
Stepping down
Hideki Tojo stepped down as the chief of staff of Kenkichi Ueda (Japanese Kwantung Army in northeastern China). -
Army minister appointment
Hideki Tojo was appointed the Army Minister in Japanese Prime Minister Fumimaro Konoe's new cabinet -
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Appointed to war minister. Tensions rising for war
Tojo was appointed war minister in the second Fumimaro Konoe government, which proceeded at once to sign the Tripartite Pact with Germany and Italy
Relations with the United States worsened during succeeding months as Japanese troops moved south into Indochina
Convinced of the righteousness of the imperial cause and of the implacable hostility of the Americans, the British, the Chinese, and the Dutch, he stoutly opposed the negotiations
Tojo demanded a decision for war unless the United States -
Tojo's new cabinet
An imperial mandate was then given to Tojo to become premier and form a new Cabinet.
it was thought that only tojo had the knowledge of recent developments and knew how to control the army
Tojo was given an imperial order to review past decisions, strive for peace and avoid war -
Begining of war
But a reconsideration of Japanese policy failed to reveal alternatives acceptable to the army, and the decision for war was taken. Within hours after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Tojo broadcast a brief message to his countrymen, warning them that "to annihilate this enemy and to establish a stable new order in East Asia, the nation must necessarily anticipate a long war." -
Named prime minister
Hideki Tojo was named 40th Prime Minister of Japan. -
Rejecting American peace proposal
Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tojo rejected the American counter-proposal for peace -
Tojo resigning as prime minister
Hideki Tojo submitted his letter of resignation for his position as the Prime Minister of Japan. He would be officially replaced by Kuniaki Koiso four days later. -
Failed suicide after ordered for arrest
Former Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tojo failed in his suicide attempt at Sugamo Prison, Tokyo, Japann when Gen. MacArthur ordered his arrest, Tojo attempted to shoot himself. -
Trial for Tojo during may has began
After his recovery he was held in Sugamo prison until his trial as a suspected war criminal by the International Military Tribunal for the Far East began -
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Continued trial and sentencing
After proceedings which stretched out over 2 years, during which Tojo willingly accepted his responsibility for much of Japan's wartime policy while declaring it legitimate self-defense, he was found guilty of having "major responsibility for Japan's criminal attacks on her neighbors" and was sentenced to death by hanging. The sentence was carried out on Dec. 23, 1948. -
Death sentence to Tojo
Former Japanese Prime Minister Hideki Tojo was sentenced to death by hanging -
Execution
Hideki Tojo was executed at the Sugamo Prison in Tokyo, Japan.