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.
He participated in the battles of Lützen, Bautzen, Haynau, Kulm, Dohna and Leipzig.
He played a significant role in the military organisation of the counter-revolution, and had General Friedrich Graf von Wrangel march into Berlin.
In 1850, he submitted his resignation, due to differences of opinion between him and King Frederick William IV.