Task: Question Understanding
Input (English): Context : Hans-Joachim Merks (2 February 1917 -- 21 June 1961) was a Kapitänleutnant with the Kriegsmarine during World War II and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). 
Question : What war was Hans-Joachim Merks in?
Output (English): conflict