In early 1939, borrowing from wealthy relatives, they bought two sewing machines and one for stitching buttonholes. Inside their residence, they opened a small workshop for producing men's clothing. In January 1940, Liza was hired as a typist at the Soviet commercial office in Bucharest, with Mișu, upon her recommendation, soon following as an accountant. The couple were arrested in June 1941, at the start of Operation Barbarossa, and interned at Târgu Jiu camp. There, they quickly fell into the communist circle.