ˈæftɚɹ ɐtˈɛndɪŋ dʒɪmnˈeɪsiəm ɪn zwˈeɪbɹuːkən, hiː stˈʌdid lˈɔː ænd pəlˈɪɾɪkəl sˈaɪəns æt ðə jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾiz ʌv mjˈuːnɪk, fɹˈeɪbɜːɡ ænd bɜːlˈɪn, wˌɪtʃ hiː kəmplˈiːɾᵻd ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvən baɪ pˈæsɪŋ hɪz stˈeɪt lˈɔː ɛɡzˌæmᵻnˈeɪʃən.
After attending gymnasium in Zweibrücken, he studied law and political science at the universities of Munich, Freiburg and Berlin, which he completed in 1907 by passing his state law examination.