Hideki Tojo started out by attending the Army Cadet School in 1899, where he grew an interest in militarist politics. By 1905 he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the infantry of the IJA. Tojo quickly rose to power as he was appointed major general in 1934 and top command of the Kempetai of the Kwantung Army in 1935. He strongly believed in the ways of other dictators at this time, such as Hitler, Stalin, and Mussolini. By 1940 he became the prime minister.