When World War I began, Patzelt was an officer in the 22nd Schützen Regiment on the Russian Front. He fought in the Battle of Komarów. During the subsequent Austro-Hungarian retreat, he was wounded on 21 November 1914. He returned from hospital to fight in the Carpathian Mountains and the Gorlice–Tarnów offensive in early 1915. In March 1915, he was awarded the Military Merit Cross with War Decorations and Swords.The Aerodrome website Accessed 29 October 2021. On 23 March 1915, he received a rare early, out-of-turn promotion to Oberleutnant (First Lieutenant). Six months later, he was awarded a Bronze Military Merit Medal.The Aerodrome website Accessed 29 October 2021.
