He served as an officer in Agram (today Zagreb, Croatia) and was promoted to major in 1904, in which year he became a member of the Austrian staff.
Hän palveli upseerina Agramissa (nykyinen Zagreb, Kroatia) ja oli ylennetty majuriksi 1904, jolloin hänestä tuli Itävallan armeijan päällystöä.