 Following the outbreak of the First World War he saw active infantry service and participated in the Battle of Verdun.After being wounded four times, in 1916 he transferred to the Deutsche "Luftstreitkräfte" as adjutant to "Jagdgeschwader 2" and then "Jagdgeschwader 1" as the adjutant to Manfred von Richthofen based at Avesnes-le-sac.In June 1918 Hermann Göring took over command of the squadron after von Richthofen's death.