In reading this chapter about Hersch's life during the Second World War, one may ask why it contains so little direct reference to the events of the war, for example, the fall of France, the Battle of Britain, the United States' entry into the war, and the invasion of Europe. This is not because Hersch was indifferent to such matters. Far from it. He was fully aware of them. Listening to the news on the wireless and reading The Times were part of his daily routine. He was too old – 42 at the outbreak of the War – for military service. Nonetheless, as will be seen, he was active in war-related matters. Important amongst these were his two missions to the United States in 1940–1 and 1942. Ostensibly, they were to give lectures, but actually they were intended to garner support in the American academic community for the British position, especially in the period before the United States entered the war. Also important in that earlier period was the assistance that he gave to the United States Attorney-General in developing the arguments supportive of the American position of qualified neutrality and in thus combating the hostility amongst some American academics. He was active also in the development from 1942 onwards of the procedures for the trial of German war criminals. Compared to these contributions, his roles in the Home Guard as a firewatcher were small though pertinent items.