One of Emperor William I's closest friends was Oldwig von Natzmer; a general of the same name served in World War II.

After entering Dutch service as a youth, Natzmer joined the army of Brandenburg-Prussia in 1677 as a lieutenant in Oberstleutnant Joachim Ernst von Grumbkow's Elite-Eskadron-Dragonern.

They served the Dutch Republic's House of Orange against King Louis XIV of France in the War of the Spanish Succession, campaigning in Brabant, Luxembourg, and Flanders.

Natzmer, who converted King Frederick William I of Prussia to Pietism,[3] supported the Pietists in their attempts to rid the army of vices, such as drinking, gambling, and brothels.

[3] Frustrated by Katte's procrastination even with the extra window of time, Natzmer reluctantly arrested the accused, whom Frederick William I eventually sentenced to death.