He entered the Prussian military as an 18-year-old, and 1736 was promoted to second lieutenant in the Infantry Regiment Krocher (No. 18). In 1741, he was in the regiment Markgraf Heinrich No. 42, in which he entered into the Seven Years' War. He was wounded at the Battle of Leuthen, but recovered from these wounds. Promoted to major, he served at the Siege of Olmütz.