Adrian Dietrich Lothar von Trotha (July 3, 1848 – March 31, 1920) was a German military commander widely condemned for his conduct of the Herero Wars in German South-West Africa, especially for the events that led to the near-extermination of the Herero.Born in Magdeburg, the capital of the Province of Saxony, von Trotha joined the Prussian army in 1865 and fought in the Austro-Prussian and Franco-Prussian wars, for which he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class. He married Bertha Neumann on 15 October 1872. | Adrian Dietrich Lothar von Trotha (July 3, 1848 – March 31, 1920) was a German military commander widely condemned for his conduct of the Herero Wars in German South-West Africa, especially for the events that led to the near-extermination of the Herero.Born in Magdeburg, the capital of the Province of Saxony, von Trotha joined the Prussian army in 1865 and fought in the Austro-Prussian and Franco-Prussian wars, for which he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class. He married Bertha Neumann on 15 October 1872. |