--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Lieutenant General Lothar von Trotha, who…" description: "\"“Lieutenant General Lothar von Trotha, who issued an extermination order (Vernichtungsbefehl): “Within the German boundaries every Herero, whether foun..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f22/adam-hochschild-4138_quote_lieutenant-general-lothar-von-trotha-who_1311736.jpg" --- # Lieutenant General Lothar von Trotha, who issued an… ![“Lieutenant General Lothar von Trotha, who issued an extermination order (Vernichtungsbefehl): “Within the German boundaries every Herero, whether found with or without a rifle, with or without cattle, shall be shot. . . . “Signed The Great General of the Mighty Kaiser, von Trotha.” quote by Adam Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f22/adam-hochschild-4138_quote_lieutenant-general-lothar-von-trotha-who_1311736.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f22/adam-hochschild-4138_quote_lieutenant-general-lothar-von-trotha-who_1311736.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f22/adam-hochschild-4138_quote_lieutenant-general-lothar-von-trotha-who_1311736.jpg) > ““Lieutenant General Lothar von Trotha, who issued an extermination order (Vernichtungsbefehl): “Within the German boundaries every Herero, whether found with or without a rifle, with or without cattle, shall be shot. . . . “Signed The Great General of the Mighty Kaiser, von Trotha.”” [Adam Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-hochschild/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote illustrates the brutal policy of extermination imposed on the Herero people, showing how colonial powers used indiscriminate violence to suppress resistance. **In simple terms:** Trotha ordered killing all Herero regardless of arms. Key Takeaway Recognize the dangers of dehumanizing rhetoric. Themes colonialism genocide military orders Mood somber reflective Type historical political. When to use this quote - history lessons - human rights advocacy - education on colonial crimes Key Concepts imperialism racism state violence Questions to Reflect On - How do we prevent similar dehumanizing policies today? - What responsibilities do societies have to acknowledge past atrocities? A Different Perspective Such policies often ignore moral constraints and can lead to long‑term trauma. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) ## Related quotes > [In the name of Jerusalem. 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An animal so lost in rapturous contemplation of what he thinks he is as to overlook what he indubitably ought to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/man-n-an-animal-so-lost-in-rapturous-contemplation-of-what-he-thinks/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [ The text \[The Skeptical Environmentalist\] employs the strategy of those who, for example, argue ...that Jews weren't singled out by the Nazis for extermination. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-l-pimm/the-text-the-skeptical-environmentalist-employs-the-strategy-of-those/) Stuart L. Pimm > [I really wanted to take the viewer to the 'here and now' regarding the exterminations, and communicate directly in a visceral way. 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An animal so lost in rapturous contemplation of what he thinks he is as to overlook what he indubitably ought to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/man-n-an-animal-so-lost-in-rapturous-contemplation-of-what-he-thinks/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [I have given orders to my Death units to exterminate without mercy or pity men, women and children belonging to the Polish speaking race...After…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/i-have-given-orders-to-my-death-units-to-exterminate-without-mercy-or/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [If one looks into the genealogies of many 'old families,' one discovers episodes of slave trafficking, bootlegging, gun running, opium trading, falsified land claims,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-parenti/if-one-looks-into-the-genealogies-of-many-old-families-one-discovers/) [Michael Parenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-parenti/) > [If 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