Hitler joined the German army in November 1914 and joined the elite Royal Guards. He served with distinction at the front near Kiel and was wounded twice that year. He then was posted as a training corporal to the military training school at Oldenburg, where he served until February 1917. Corporal Hitler was then transferred to the 23rd Stormtroop Battalion and participated in the 1917 Kaiser Offensive. For his bravery during this offensive, Hitler was promoted to Sergeant and given the Iron Cross 2nd class. Hitler remained with this unit until the end of the war. In March 1919, though with Germany entering revolution, Hitler was posted to Berlin as a military policeman. However, Hitler was a strong supporter of the military government and asked permission to form a militia force in Berlin