Hermine Zaynard's mother, also called Hermine Schwarzer, had been arrested on 17 March 1943 "on suspicion of communist activities". It seems likely that she had been arrested on suspicion of having been involved in her daughter's political activities. According to one source she was charged with "preparing to commit high treason and distributing illegal leaflets". However, there is no record of her having actually faced trial, so presumably the security services never obtained the level of evidence that would have been necessary "safely" to secure her conviction. Nevertheless, Hermine Schwarzer (mother) remained under suspicion so could not be released. Instead, after two months in custody in Vienna, she was transferred to the women's concentration camp at Ravensbrück, a short distance to the north of Berlin, where she was detained till May 1945.