After Germany launched its invasion of the U.S.S.R. on 21 June 1941, the KGB in Rīga took Hāzners in on June 25, ostensibly for a brief interview. However, arriving at the KGB station, Hāzners was arrested and isolated. The KGB questioned him and demanded he identify anti-Soviet elements, but Hāzners refused. He was taken away and incarcerated at the Central Prison, where he was threatened, beaten, and forced to affix his signature to his own death sentence. Fortunately, Hāzners and several other prisoners managed to escape on June 30 as the Soviets began their retreat ahead of the German capture of Rīga the following day.