Gustav was born as the son of the professor of obstetrics at the University of Würzburg, Friedrich Wilhelm Scanzoni von Lichtenfels and his wife Auguste (née Höniger) (1826-1891).

His father was elevated to the hereditary Bavarian nobility on June 19, 1863, by King Maximilian II of Bavaria as "Scanzoni von Lichtenfels".

Scanzoni then graduated from the War Academy in Munich which made him a qualifier for the General Staff, the highest adjutant position and as a military teacher.

After the German entry into World War I, Scanzoni von Lichtenfels re-enlisted as officer with a temporary pension and given command of the 6th Reserve Division on the Western Front on December 24, 1914, which was engaged in trench warfare in Flanders and Artois.

[5] After his participation in the Attack at Fromelles during the Somme Campaign in October 1916, he received his promotion of General of the Artillery on November 14, 1916, and was relieved of his position as divisional commander on January 13, 1917.