After the Victory, Gelfand hoped for dismissal from the army. However, he was not demobilized neither in the first wave of demobilization (in accordance with the decree of June 23, 1945), nor in the second wave (in accordance with the decree of September 25, 1945). In June 1945, Gelfand did not have a specific task. When the looting of the Science Library began, he considered it “shameful barbarism” (entry dated June 16/17). In early July, he arrived on the board of an officer reserve near the village of Rüders. During this period, Gelfand tried to get the post of political worker or (after language courses) translator.