Karl von Strotha

Karl Adolf von Strotha (22 February 1786 in Frankenstein – 15 February 1870 in Berlin) was a Prussian officer and Minister of War from 1848 to 1850.

Biography Strotha was born into an officers' family and joined the Prussian infantry in 1805 and participated in the Battle of Jena-Auerstedt. He was dismissed from active service due to the cutbacks in the army after the Prussian defeat, although he was made an ensign in 1809. In 1811, Strotha was re-activated as Lieutenant in the artillery. During the War of the Sixth Coalition he was in the Guard Battery. He participated in the battles of Lützen, Bautzen, Haynau, Kulm, Dohna and Leipzig.

In 1815 Strotha was made a First Lieutenant. A year later he was made a Captain and commander of a battery of artillery on horseback. He also traveled to several European countries. From 1827 to 1830 he commanded the artillery in Magdeburg. After that, he was a Major in a Guard artillery brigade. In 1842, Strotha was made a colonel and, in 1847 commander of the 3rd artillery brigade. In March 1848 he was made commander of the fortress of Saarlouis, and in May of the same year, was made a Major General.