<P> In 1934, Tojo was promoted to major general and served as Chief of the Personnel Department within the Army Ministry . Tojo wrote a chapter in the book Hijōji kokumin zenshū (Essays in time of national emergency), a book published in March 1934 by the Army Ministry calling for Japan to become a totalitarian "national defense state". This book of 15 essays by senior generals argued that Japan had defeated Russia in the war of 1904 - 05 because bushido had given the Japanese superior willpower as the Japanese did not fear death unlike the Russians who wanted to live, and what was needed to win the inevitable next war (against precisely whom the book did not say) was to repeat the example of the Russian - Japanese war on a much greater scale by creating the "national defense state" that would mobilize the entire nation for war . In his essay Tojo wrote "The modern war of national defense extends over a great many areas" requiring "a state that can monolithically control" all aspects of the nation in the political, social and economic spheres . Tojo attacked Britain, France and the United States for waging "ideological war" against Japan since 1919 . Tojo ended his essay stating that Japan must stand tall "and spread its own moral principles to the world" as the "cultural and ideological war of the' imperial way' is about to begin". Tojo was appointed commander of the IJA 24th Infantry Brigade in August 1934 . In September 1935, Tojo assumed top command of the Kempeitai of the Kwantung Army in Manchuria . Politically, he was fascist, nationalist, and militarist, and was nicknamed "Razor" (カミソリ, Kamisori), for his reputation of having a sharp and legalistic mind capable of quick decision - making . Tojo was a member of the Tōseiha ("Control") faction in the Army that was opposed by the more radical Kōdōha ("Imperial Way") faction . Both the Tōseiha and the Kōdōha factions were militaristic, fascistic groups that favored a policy of expansionism abroad and dictatorship under the Emperor at home, but differed over the best way of achieving these goals . The Imperial Way faction wanted a coup d'état to achieve a Shōwa Restoration; emphasised "spirit" as the principle war - winning factor; and despite advocating socialist policies at home wanted to invade the Soviet Union . The Control faction, while being willing to use assassination to achieve its goals, was more willing to work within the system to achieve reforms; wanted to create the "national defense state" to mobilize the entire nation before going to war; and, while not rejecting the idea of "spirit" as a war - winning factor also saw military modernization as a war - winning factor; and saw the United States as a future enemy just as much as the Soviet Union . </P> <P> During the February 26 coup attempt of 1936, Tojo and Shigeru Honjō, a noted supporter of Sadao Araki, both opposed the rebels who were associated with the rival "Imperial Way" faction . Emperor Hirohito himself was outraged at the attacks on his close advisers, and after a brief political crisis and stalling on the part of a sympathetic military, the rebels were forced to surrender . As the commander of the Kempeitai, Tojo ordered the arrest of all officers in the Kwantung Army suspected of supporting the coup attempt in Tokyo . In the aftermath, the Tōseiha faction was able to purge the Army of radical officers, and the coup leaders were tried and executed . Following the purge, Tōseiha and Kōdōha elements were unified in their nationalist but highly anti-political stance under the banner of the Toseiha military clique, with Tojo in the leadership position . Tojo was promoted to Chief of staff of the Kwangtung Army in 1937 . As the "Empire of Manchukuo" was a sham, and in reality, Manchukuo was a Japanese colony, the Kwangtung Army's duties were just as much political as they were military . During this period, Tojo become close to Yōsuke Matsuoka, the fiery ultra-nationalist CEO of the South Manchuria Railway, one of Asia's largest corporations at the time, and Nobusuke Kishi, the Deputy Minister of Industry in Manchukuo, who was the man de facto in charge of Manchukuo's economy . Through Tojo regarded preparing for a war with the Soviet Union as his first duty, Tojo also supported the forward policy in north China as the Japanese sought to extend their influence into China . As chief of staff, Tojo was responsible for the military operations designed to increase Japanese penetration into the Inner Mongolia border regions with Manchukuo . In July 1937, he personally led the units of the 1st Independent Mixed Brigade in Operation Chahar, his only real combat experience . </P> <P> After the Marco Polo Bridge Incident marking the start of the Second Sino - Japanese War, Tojo ordered his forces to attack Hebei Province and other targets in northern China . Tojo received Jewish refugees in accordance with Japanese national policy and rejected the resulting Nazi German protests . Tojo was recalled to Japan in May 1938 to serve as Vice-Minister of War under Army Minister Seishirō Itagaki . From December 1938 to 1940, Tojo was Inspector - General of Army Aviation . </P> <P> On 1 June 1940, the Showa Emperor appointed Kōichi Kido, a leading "reform bureaucrat" as the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal, making him into the Emperor's leading political advisor and fixer . Kido had aided in the creation in the 1930s of an alliance between the "reform bureaucrats" and the "Control" faction in the Army, which was headed by General Mutō Akira and General Tōjo . Kido's appointment also favored the rise of his allies in the Control faction . On July 30, 1940, Hideki Tōjo was appointed Army Minister in the second Fumimaro Konoe regime, and remained in that post in the third Konoe cabinet . Prince Konoe had chosen Tojo--a man representative of both the Army's hardline views and the Control faction while being considered reasonable to deal with--to secure the Army's backing for his foreign policy . Tojo was a militant ultra-nationalist, well respected for his work ethic and his ability to handle paperwork, who believed that the Emperor was a living god and favored "direct imperial rule", ensuring that he would faithfully follow any order from the Emperor . Konoe favored having Germany mediate an end to the Sino - Japanese war, pressuring Britain to end its economic and military support of China even at the risk of war, seeking better relations with both Germany and the United States, and of taking advantage of the changes in the international order caused by Germany's victories in the spring of 1940 to make Japan a stronger power in Asia . Konoe wanted to make Japan the dominant power in East Asia, but he also believed it was possible to negotiate a modus vivendi with the United States under which the Americans would agree to recognise the "Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere". </P>

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