Willibald Utz was born in Furth im Wald in Bavaria on 20 January 1893. In 1913, at the age of 20, he entered the Bavarian Army as an ensign, and by September 1914 he had been commissioned lieutenant. After serving in World War I he joined the inter-war Reichswehr. By the outbreak of World War II in 1939 he was commander of the 100th (mountain) "(Gebirgsjäger)" Regiment, and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for his leadership of this regiment during the invasion of Crete during May and June 1941.