Adolf von Trotha | |
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| Born | (1868-03-01)1 March 1868 |
| Died | 11 October 1940(1940-10-11) (aged 72) |
| Allegiance |  German Empire |
| Branch | Imperial German Navy VorläufigeReichsmarine (1919-20) |
| Service years | 1886–1920 |
| Rank | Admiral (1939) |
| Commands |
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| Conflicts | Boxer Rebellion World War I |
| Awards | Pour le Mérite Iron Cross |
| Spouse | Anna von Veltheim |
Adolf von Trotha (1 March 1868 – 11 October 1940) was aGermanadmiral in theKaiserliche Marine. After the German revolution he briefly served as the firstChef der Admiralität, which replaced the imperialReichsmarineamt. After supporting theKapp-Lüttwitz Putsch of March 1920 he resigned his post. He later held several political and maritime posts in theThird Reich.
Trotha was born 1 March 1868 atKoblenz, at the time part of theRhine Province of the Kingdom of Prussia. Trotha was the third son ofKarl von Trotha (1834–1870), who was killed in theFranco-Prussian War, when his son was only two years old. Trotha married Anna von Veltheim (15 January 1877 – 8 August 1964) on 4 June 1902, the daughter of Fritz von Veltheim and Elizabeth von Krosigk.
Trotha entered the Imperial Navy in 1886 as an officer candidate and was promoted toLeutnant zur See in 1891. He served as a commander of the torpedo boatD3 and as a navigations officer on the small cruiserSMSSeeadler. In 1900 he was a staff officer atTianjin. From 1914 to 1918, Trotha served inWorld War I. In 1916 he became Chief of Staff of theHigh Seas Fleet.[1]
AsChef der Admiralität from March 1919 Trotha was a (non-voting) ex-officio member of the first two cabinets of theWeimar Republic, theScheidemann cabinet and theBauer cabinet from March 1919 until March 1920.[2][3]
In March 1920, he supported the failedKapp Putsch and resigned his post.[4] He retired from the navy in October 1920 with the rank ofVizeadmiral.[5]
After retirement, Trotha took over the management of theGrossdeutscher Jugendbund (Greater German Youth League) in 1921. In October 1931 he was one of the participants in theHarzburg Front march ofNazis and other anti-democratic right-wing nationalists. After theNazi seizure of power he became a Provincial Councillor for theProvince of Brandenburg andPosen-West Prussia. PrussianMinister PresidentHermann Göring also appointed him to thePrussian State Council on 13 September 1933.[6]
On 23 March 1934, the Reich Federation of German Seafaring was founded under Trotha's chairmanship; this was the successor organization to theNavy League.[1] Trotha was made honorary leader of the MarineHitler Youth on 15 February 1935. On 1 March 1938, he was awarded theGolden Party Badge. From 4 March 1939, he also served as the honorary chairman of the German High Seas Sport Federation. In August 1939, he was granted the title ofAdmiral.[7] After his death on 11 October 1940 a state funeral was held in Berlin.
Kingdom of Prussia:[8]
Kingdom of Bavaria: Officer of theMilitary Merit Order[8]
Mecklenburg-Schwerin:Knight of the Griffon[8]
Kingdom of Saxony: Commander of theAlbert Order, 2nd Class[8]
Württemberg: Commander of theFriedrich Order, 2nd Class[8]Scheidemann cabinet – 13 February to 20 June 1919 | ||
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