 Nyorai kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Kubva musi wa1 Kurume kusvika musi wa30 Chikumi 1939, Merten akatora kosi yekudzidzira mukuru wezvombo zvehondo uye akaendeswa kuSchleswig-Holstein muna Chikunguru 1939 semukuru wechikoro chekudzidzisa. Hondo Yenyika II yakatanga musi wa1 September 1939 apo mauto eGermany akapinda muPoland. Merten akabatanidzwa mukuputika kwePoland base paWesterplatte yeDanzig mangwanani-ngwanani aSeptember 1, 1939. Musi waSeptember 7, akatungamirira mauto ehondo yeSchleswig-Holstein muHondo yeHel. Pamwe chete ne5. Marineartillerie-Abteilung 5th Naval Artillery Department, mauto eGermany akaburuka paHel Peninsula. Nokuda kwezviito zvake muhondo idzi akagamuchira Iron Cross 2nd Class musi wa 2 October 1939. 