ˈæftɚ fˈɪnɪʃɪŋ hˈaɪ skˈuːl, hiː dʒˈɔɪnd ðə twˈɛlfθ ɡɹˈɛnɐdiɚ ɹˈɛdʒɪmənt ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi nˈaɪn æz ɐ fˈɑːnəndʒˌʌŋkɚ ˈɑːfɪsɚ kɐdˈɛt.
After finishing high school, he joined the 12th Grenadier Regiment in 1889 as a Fahnenjunker (Officer Cadet).