8 5 6 ▁he ▁was ▁appointed ▁to ▁the ▁cad ets ▁school ▁in ▁P ots dam , ▁and ▁in ▁ 1 8 6 0 ▁he ▁became ▁batt alion ▁commander . ▁ ▁In ▁the ▁Aust ro - Pr uss ian ▁War ▁of ▁ 1 8 6 6 , ▁Pa pe ▁was ▁a ▁Colonel ▁command ing ▁the ▁ 2 nd ▁Gu ards ▁Infantry ▁Brigade , ▁which ▁he ▁had ▁led ▁since ▁ 1 8 6 3 . ▁On ▁December ▁ 3 1 , ▁ 1 8 6 6 , ▁he ▁was ▁promoted ▁to ▁Colonel - General . ▁On ▁the ▁out break ▁of ▁the ▁Franco - Pr uss ian ▁War ▁of ▁ 1 8 7 0 / 7 1 , ▁he ▁was ▁given ▁the ▁▁ 1 st ▁Gu ards ▁Infantry ▁Division ▁which ▁took ▁St .- P riv at - la - Mont agne ▁on ▁August ▁ 1 8 , ▁then ▁successfully ▁fought ▁in ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁Sed an , ▁leading ▁to ▁the ▁sie ge ▁of ▁Paris ▁and ▁the ▁final ▁victory . ▁ ▁On ▁March ▁ 2 2 , ▁ 1 8 7 2 , ▁he ▁was ▁awarded ▁the ▁pri zed ▁Oak le aves ▁to ▁the ▁Pr uss ian ▁Pour ▁le ▁Mer ite ▁Order ▁for ▁his ▁military ▁services ▁most ▁especially ▁for ▁action ▁at ▁the ▁batt les ▁at ▁St . ▁Priv at ▁on ▁August ▁ 1 8 , ▁ 1 8 7 0 , ▁and ▁at ▁Sed an ▁on ▁September ▁ 1 , ▁ 1 8 7 0 . ▁His ▁initial ▁Pour ▁le ▁Mer ite ▁Order ▁award ▁was ▁on ▁September