 In February 1911, Schenk was ennobled and thus he added the predicate “von” to his last name; the following May 11, he was promoted to Generalmjor.In February 1914 at the approach of World War I, he was commanding the 97th Infantry Brigade in Vienna and with the coming of war against Russia he was an army rear area commander.In late August 1914 he was appointed commander of the 15th Infantry Division.