tɹˈɑːθə ˈɛntɚd ðɪ ɪmpˈɪɹiəl nˈeɪvi ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi sˈɪks æz ɐn ˈɑːfɪsɚ kˈændᵻdˌeɪt ænd wʌz pɹəmˈoʊɾᵻd tə lˈuːtnənt zˈɜː sˈiː ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti wˈʌn.
Trotha entered the Imperial Navy in 1886 as an officer candidate and was promoted to Leutnant zur See in 1891.