 Goltz akapinda muchiuto chePrussian muna 1861 somutevedzeri wechipiri ne5th East Prussian Infantry Regiment Nhamba 41, muKönigsberg zvino Kaliningrad. Munguva ya1864 aive pabasa pamuganhu paToruń, mushure mezvo akapinda muBerlin Military Academy, asi akabviswa kwenguva pfupi muna 1866 kuti ashande muHondo yeAustria-Prussian, umo akakuvara paTrautenau. Muna 1867 akabatana nechikamu che topographic chevakuru vakuru, uye pakutanga kweHondo yeFrance-Prussian ya1870-71 yakabatanidzwa nevashandi vePrince Frederick Charles, mukuru mukuru wePrussian Second Army. Akatora rutivi muhondo dzeVionville neGravelotte uye mukukombwa kweMetz. Pashure pokunge Metz yawa akashanda pasi paMuchinda Friedrich Karl wePrussia muhondo yeLoire, kusanganisira hondo dzeOrleans neLe Mans. 