By Sidney Wadsworth and Lilia Hall

 Born December 30, 1884 in Tokyo  Attended the Army Cadet School in 1899  Attended the Japanese Military Academy in 1904  He attended the Japanese military academy  He rose quickly threw the officer ranks  He became active in militarist politics  He became Vice War Minister 1938 and chief of army aviation under war minister Seishiro Itagaki  On July 22, 1940 he was appointed War minister by Prime minister Konoe  On October 18, 1941, Tojo was appointed Prime Minister of Japan  He authorized the attack on Pearl harbor that took place on December 7, 1941.

 Tojo believed that war with America was inevitable. He thought that by wiping out America’s Pacific fleet, Japan would be able to launch their attack on the Philippines.  Japan wanted to wipe out America’s pacific because he believed it would stand in the way of Japan controlling all of the Pacific.  America cut off the oil and supplies that was being shipped to Japan because Japan was making aggressive military actions that threatened the America and its allies.

 PEARL HARBOR  And while America and Japan were talking peace, Tojo was planning the attack on Pearl Harbor.  On December 7, 1941 at 7:55 AM the first wave of Japanese planes flew over Pearl Harbor and focused their firepower on the battleships and the air fields. The second wave arrived at 8:40 AM but met much more resistance than the first.  5 Japanese midget submarines were also sent to assist the air planes in destroying the battleships. 3 were sunk by the Americans, 1 was scuttled and 1 was captured.  All 8 battleships in port were either were either sunk or damaged.  A total of 2,335 service men were lost in the Japanese attack. On the USS Arizona alone 1,100 service men were killed.  The Japanese lost 65 men and 1 was captured. USS Arizona USS Shaw

 On December 8, 1941 America declared war on Japan. And, as Japan’s allies, Germany and Italy declared war on the U.S.  Tojo had thoroughly dragged America in to the war.  Tojo believed that by doing this America would be set back and not stand in Japan’s way.  However, although the Pearl Harbor was disastrous for the U.S. naval fleet, the most important target for the Japanese, U.S. aircraft carriers, were not in port. This meant that the U.S. naval fleet was not as crippled as it could have been and as Tojo had wanted it to be.

 December 7, 1941 Japan attacks Pearl Harbor  December 10, 1941 Japan invades the Philippines and also seized Guam  December 11, 1941 Japan invades Burma  December 16, 1941 Japan invades British Borneo  December 18, 1941 Japan invades Hong Kong  December 22, 1941 Japan invades Luzon in the Philippines  December 23, 1941 Japan takes Wake Island  December 27, 1941 Japan bombs Manila Japanese Zero fighter planes were crucial in pearl harbor attack

 Tojo was accused of these war crimes:  As “leaders, organizers, instigators, or accomplices in the formulation or execution of a common plan or conspiracy..to wage wars of aggression and wars in violation of international law.”  Waging unprovoked war against China.  Waging aggressive war against the United States.  Waging aggressive war against the British commonwealth.  Waging was against the Netherlands.  Waging aggressive war against France.  “order, authorized, and permitted” inhuman treatment of Prisoners of War (POWs) and others.  Tojo was put on trial as a war criminal in He was found guilty and hanged

 World War II: Battles With No Boundaries, "Pearl Harbor." Accessed April 25,  Chen, C. Peter. World War II Database, "Hideki Tojo." Accessed April 24,  Encyclopaedia Britannica, "Tōjō Hideki." Accessed April 24,  History Learing Site, "Hideki Tojo." Accessed April 24,  "Pearl Harbor Remembrance." Accessed April 25, veterans.org/Pearl.htm. FOR PICTURE ONLY:  Conspire.com, "The Government Allowed the Bombing of Pearl Harbor." Last modified June 26,2011. Accessed April 25, bombing-of-pearl-harbor/.  Roberts, Monica. TransGriot, "70th Anniversary Of The Pearl Harbor Attack." Last modified December 7,2011. Accessed April 25, anniversary-of-pearl-harbor-attack.html.  Wikipedia, "Hideki Tōjō." Last modified April23,2012. Accessed April 25,  Britannica Mobile Edition, Accessed April 26,