He joined the Prussian Army as an officer candidate while the campaigns of the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 were materializing and admitted as an officer candidate in the 4th Artillery Regiment of Maagdeburg, without turning in the entrance exams due to his excellent grades. In that post the same year he participated in the Austrian campaign but he didn't manage to take part in the operations because although his unit moved quickly to the theater of operations, due to the rapid conclusion of that war and the Prussian triumph in Sadowa, its support was no longer required and they received a counter marching order, returning to their garrison.