He was able to get permission from the mental hospital to travel to Finland, where he enlisted with the Nazis. However, the short, out of shape and unreliable Bode soon became a burden and was sent home with an under-officer degree from the Nazi army.
From the mental hospital, he secured permission to visit Finland and join the Nazis. Nevertheless, Bode, who was short, physically unsound, and unreliable, quickly proved burdensome and was discharged with an inferior officer's degree from the Nazi army.