After attending volksschule and gymnasium in Stettin (today, Szczecin), Fobke enlisted in the Imperial German Army and fought in a pioneer regiment during the First World War from June 1917 to November 1918.

In 1923, Fobke joined the Nazi Party and, in May of that year, became a member of the Stoßtrupp-Hitler (Shock Troop-Hitler), an early personal bodyguard unit for Hitler.

After the collapse of the putsch, Fobke fled but was arrested at the end of January 1924 when apprehended by border police in Berchtesgaden while attempting to smuggle 2,000 copies of an underground Nazi newspaper into Germany from Salzburg.

[1] Fobke stood trial together with 39 other members of the Shock Troop for aiding and abetting high treason and, on 28 April 1924, was sentenced to 15 months in prison with the prospect of early release.

Arriving in Landsberg Prison on 20 June 1924,[2] he shared his captivity with Hitler, Rudolf Hess, Hermann Kriebel, Friedrich Weber and 21 other members of the Shock Troop.

[8] Subsequently, Hitler completely repudiated the proposed draft at the Bamberg Conference, a meeting that neither Fobke nor Haase attended,[9] and the Working Association was dissolved shortly thereafter.