After WW2, did any German soldiers just return home without surrendering to the Allies first? Did the Allies try to find and arrest them?

 After World War II, a significant number of German soldiers did surrender to the Allies, as the defeat of Nazi Germany led to a mass capitulation. However, not every German soldier immediately surrendered through official channels. Some chose to evade capture and attempted to make their way back home independently. The reasons for such decisions varied, ranging from fear of reprisals to a desire to avoid being taken as prisoners of war.

The Allies, primarily focusing on the defeat of Nazi leadership and war criminals, did conduct efforts to locate and apprehend individuals involved in war crimes. High-ranking officials and those responsible for atrocities were often the primary targets. While there were efforts to bring war criminals to justice through international tribunals like the Nuremberg Trials, the pursuit of every individual soldier who did not immediately surrender was not as systematic. The Allies' focus on rebuilding and stabilizing post-war Europe also influenced their approach to dealing with individual soldiers who had not surrendered through official channels.

In some cases, former German soldiers who evaded capture and returned home may have faced local legal consequences or societal scrutiny. The aftermath of World War II involved complex geopolitical and humanitarian challenges, and the handling of individual soldiers varied based on circumstances and local authorities.