Before World War I Bothmer fractured a leg which rendered him unfit for field duty, resulting in him having to wait for a command until December.

On 22 March 1915 he was given the command of Corps Bothmer, a unit raised to help defend the passes of the Carpathian Mountains against Russian attacks that directly threatened Hungary.

On 7 July, he was awarded the Pour le Mérite for outstanding leadership and distinguished military planning and successful operations during the battles of Dniester, Gnila-Lipa, and Zlota-Lipa.

A day later Bothmer succeeded Alexander von Linsingen as commander of the South Army, which consisted of German and Austrian units.

[4] Count Bothmer died in Munich on 18 March 1937 and, contrary to his family's wishes, Adolf Hitler's government ordered a state funeral.