(Thursday, December 23, 1948, 12:01-12:35 a.m. ) — Hideki Tojo, the former dictator of Japan responsible for ordering the attack on Pearl Harbor, which initiated war between Japan and the United States, and six Japanese military and government officials were hanged this morning at Sugamo Prison on the outskirts of Tokyo as criminals against international law.

The death sentences against them, imposed by the international Military Tribunal after about two and a half years of trial, were carried out by the U.S. Eighth Army.

In his final statement, Tojo apologized for the atrocities committed by the Japanese military and urged the American military to show compassion toward the Japanese people, who had suffered devastating air attacks and the two atomic bombings.

Tojo was found guilty Nov. 12, 1948, of, among other things, waging wars of aggression, war in violation of international law, unprovoked or aggressive war against various nations and ordering, authorizing, and permitting inhumane treatment of prisoners of war.

Another 16 co-defendants were sentenced to life in prison and two more were given prison sentences ranging from 7-10 years.