Kammala jumla mai zuwa: A lokacin barkewar yakin a 1939, an sanya Zirnheld zuwa wani bangare na Défense Contre Avions (DCA) a Lebanon. Zirnheld yayi kokarin canzawa don yin aiki a cikin rundunar soji a Faransa, amma
An sanya hannu kan yarjejeniyar tsagaita wuta kafin ya iya yin hakan. Daga nan Zirnheld ya tsere zuwa Falasdinu da ke ƙarƙashin mulkin Burtaniya don shiga sojojin Faransa. An sanya shi zuwa 1st Colonial Infantry Battalion a matsayin mai zaman kansa kuma ya yi aiki a yakin Sidi Barani. Saboda iliminsa, an sake sanya shi Mataimakin Daraktan Sashen Watsa Labarai da Tattalin Arziki a Alkahira. Ko da yake wannan wuri ne mai "amintacce", ya nemi a tura shi zuwa gaba. Daga nan aka tura shi zuwa Makarantar 'Yan takarar Jami'ai a Brazzaville, Congo ta Faransa, inda ya kammala karatu na 5 a ajin sa a matsayin Aspirant (Brevet-Lieutenant).