He enlisted in the infantry on 4 August 1914, while he was still 17 years old. He later served as an artilleryman. He was a combatant in the Battle of Tannenberg on the Eastern Front. He was switched to the Western Front in early 1916. On 1 July, he began aerial service, training as a pilot. Once qualified, he was posted to "Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie)" (Flier Detachment (Artillery) 270), an artillery direction unit, on 1 January 1917. He served with them until transferred to "Jagdstaffel 36" (Fighter Squadron 36) on 1 April. Rather unusually, he did not undergo fighter training before making the switch.