Family

Trotha came of an old aristocracy sex from the hall circle with principal firm castle Trotha in the today's resound Trotha.

He married in first marriage on 15 October 1872 in Mainz Bertha Neumann (* 15 February 1850 in Graudenz; "† 9 October 1905 in Berlin), the daughter of the NN. Neumann and Augusts Spaencke.

In second marriage Trotha married to 19. May 1912 in London Lucy Goldstein Brinckmann (* 30 April 1881 in Frankfurt/Main; "† 30 January 1958 in Bonn), the daughter of the bank manager Heinrich Goldstein Brinckmann and the Christel Brinckmann.

Military career/development

1865 occurred the Prussian army, participated Trotha in the GermanAustrian and French-German war. There it received the iron cross IITH class. On 17 August 1900 it during the boxing up conditions the command became the 1. East Asian infantry brigade transfer. At the 3. May 1904 he became commander of the imperially German colonial force in German southwest Africa.

Commander of the imperial colonial force in German southwest Africa

At the 3. May 1904 took place after the recall Theodor from Leutweins the appointment as the commander in chief and governor von with the order to strike down the rebellion of the Herero. Sad celebrity today still attains Trotha with its compromiseless call to the people of the Herero (see below). Under its guidance the Herero was struck with the battle to wading hereditary suppl. crucially by the colonial force and floated into the Omaheke desert. The German colonial forces occupied the surrounding water places with the instruction to shoot at all approaching Herero. Ten thousands verdursteten in the Omaheke.

The appointment Trothas as the commander of the imperial colonial force in German southwest Africa was due to its character - as different contemporaries report (see below) - disputed. In the officer corps of the colonial force was even discussed to contact with an input directly emperors Wilhelm II. in order to cancel the appointment of Trothas. According to the reports expressed of Trotha as power-hungry, hard, unyieldingly and one outlines consultingresistant. Was accordingly unpopular from Trotha in German southwest Africa. It came to serious arguments with officers of the colonial force, e.g. with Colonel Berthold Deimling or major Ludwig von Estorff. The natives auxiliary troops reacted to their way: Cornelius announced itself ill and returned with its Bethaniern home. In the Witbooi department it came to Desertationen. The loyalty of the Nama, in particular of Hendrik the Witbooi, came into the Wanken. The rebellion of the Nama in October 1904 was a direct consequence of the command change of Colonel Leutwein on of Trotha.

After the death of the Nama leader Hendrik Witbooi on 29 October 1905 in combat with pale grass Trotha considered its task terminated and asked for its recall. On 19 November 1905 it left the country. Friedrich of Lindequist took over the follow-up of Trothas as a governor, however not as a commander of the colonial force. With the tightness of its thought world and his on one side military viewpoint he had served neither the interests of the protected area, nor the reputation of the German Reich. Since one made it responsible for the sluggish process of the "“Hottentottenkrieges"”, he - just like the governor Leutwein - fell with the emperor in disgrace. Also the war guidance of the general of Trotha contradicted sharp the tradition of German armed forces. One distinguished v. Trotha with the medal "“Pour le in order to appreciate with it its military successes. With its arrival in Berlin from Trotha however from emperor Wilhelm II. was demonstratively not received and was not avoided later also from official circles.

Call to the people of the Herero

Call to the people of the Herero copy to o.k. 17290 Osombo Windembe, 2 October 1904 command of the colonial force. J.Nr. 3737 I the large general of the German soldiers sends this letter to the people of the Herero. The Hereros is not any longer German subjects. They gemordet and stolen, wounded soldiers ears and noses and other parts of the body cut off, and do not want from cowardice any longer to fight now. I legend the people: Everyone the one of the captains to one of my stations as prisoners delivers, receives 1000 Marks, who brings Samuel Maharero, receives 5000 Marks. The people of the Herero must leave however the country. If the people does not do this, then I will force it with the Groot pipe to it. Within the German border each Herero is shot with and without rifle, with or without cattle, I accepts no more women and children, drives it to their people back or lets at it shoot. These are my words to the people of the Hereros. The large general of the powerful German emperor. This decree is with appeal of the troops to communicate with adding the fact that also the troop, which catches one captains, whom appropriate reward assign will and which is to be understood a shooting at women and children in such a way that over her is away-shot, in order to force it to running. I assume with certainty the fact that this decree will lead to make no male prisoners more but not to cruelties against women and children degenerates. These will already run away, if twice over them one away-shoots. The troop will remain itself conscious the good reputation of the German soldier. the commander sgd. v. Trotha, lieutenant general. 

Voices over Trotha

Major general Nikolaus knight of Endres reported to 10. May 1904 to the Bavarian war Ministry: "„that the appointment of the lieutenant general von Trotha as the leader of the expedition corps against the contradiction of the realm chancellor, the boss of the general staff and the director of colonial of his majesty [emperor Wilhelm II., note D. Verf.] one ordered. "“Of "„the old African"” this appointment was rejected likewise throughout. Hermann of Wissmann, researchers, Afrikadurchquerer and officer judged over from Trotha as follows: "„He was a bad statesman, as he as a leader in the war was not sufficient and in addition unedler, addicted and kaltherziger humans. "“The later commander of the colonial force, major von Estorff, according to general staff "„one of our most experienced African "“, wrote: "„Wissmann, which could do him from East Africa, had opposed its appointment, but he ward does not belong. How is to become in large conditions, if already such lack of knowledge of human nature reveals itself at home. "“In the officer corps of the colonial force was even discussed to contact with an input directly emperors Wilhelm II. in order to cancel the appointment Trothas.

Literature

• Genealogi manual of the aristocracy, aristocrat of houses A volume XXVI, page 551, volume 126 of the total row, C.A. strong publishing house, Limburg (Lahn) 2001,
• George Rau: German southwest Africa. Pictures from the wars against the Hereros and Hottentotten. With a foreword of the lieutenant general z.D. Lothar v. Trotha; Publishing house star & squints, Berlin beautiful mountain 1907

Related links

• German Schutzgebiete.de over of Trotha
• Side of the family of Trotha over Lothar von Trotha
• Picture by Lothar von Trotha
• German colonial history and street name in Munich

Articles in category "Lothar von Trotha"

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