He joined the Imperial German Army in 1911, in time to see action in the First World War, entering the 3rd Thuringian Infantry Regiment No. 71. as a "Fahnenjunker". In 1912, he attended the Danzig "Kriegsakademie" (War Academy), and shortly afterward was promoted to "leutnant" (lieutenant). During the war, he served mostly on the Eastern Front in Prussia, after a brief contact with the French and Belgians at Namur in August, 1914. In August 1918, he was wounded in action and received the Wound Badge in black. By the end of the war he was an "oberleutnant". He was conferred the command of his first regiment on 20 February 1919.