Lothar von Trotha

Lothar von Trotha was a German lieutenant general and colonial veteran who commanded German troops in German South West Africa (modern-day Namibia) during the German-Herero conflict of 1904–1907.1

The conflict began with an uprising by the Herero people against German colonial rule, driven by issues such as land appropriation and increasing debt. Von Trotha arrived in June 1904 and implemented a strategy to encircle the Herero, who had retreated to the Waterberg plateau. In August 1904, German forces attacked, leading to a Herero defeat and many attempting to escape into the Kalahari Desert, where thousands died of thirst.12

Von Trotha then issued an "extermination order," stating that any Herero within German boundaries would be shot. This order was later rescinded, and a system of concentration camps was established, where many Herero, primarily women and children, died from harsh conditions. The Nama people also revolted and suffered similar fates, with many dying in concentration camps. The conflict resulted in the deaths of approximately 75% of the Herero population and 50% of the Nama population, which is considered genocide by most scholars.12