Streitman stayed behind enemy lines after the occupation of southern Romania. According to several accounts, he was picked up as a hostage by the German Army, and interned for a while at Tismana Monastery. He was active in occupied Bucharest following Romania's armistice, an editorial director of Virgil Arion's "Renașterea" newspaper, which promoted reconciliation with the Germans. According to Alexandru Macedonski of "Literatorul" (himself a Germanophile), Streitman's arrival at "Renașterea" was good news, Streiman being "one of the most brilliant Romanian journalists", "a man of great culture and a writer of great talent".