Mezue ahịrịokwu na-esonụ: Ná mmalite nke Agha Ụwa Mbụ, Witzleben jere ozi dị ka onye na-enyere ndị agha aka na 19th Reserve Infantry Brigade tupu e bulie ya ka Hauptmann na onye isi ụlọ ọrụ na Reserve Infantry Regiment No.6 na October 1914. Mgbe e mesịrị, n'otu ndị agha ahụ, ọ ghọrọ ọchịagha battalion. Ndị otu ya lụrụ ọgụ na Verdun,
Mpaghara Champagne na Flanders, tinyere ebe ndị ọzọ. E merụrụ ya ahụ nke ukwuu, e nyekwara ya ihe nrite bụ́ Iron Cross, nke klas nke mbụ na nke abụọ. Mgbe nke ahụ gasịrị, e zigara ya na ọzụzụ ndị isi ndị isi wee hụ njedebe nke agha dị ka onye isi ndị isi ndị isi nke ngalaba nke 121.