Being an ombudsman of the Mittelstelle für Jüdische Erwachsenenbildung [Center for Jewish Adult Education], Leon Schmalzbach was appointed as one of the people responsible for the logistics, bookkeeping, and administration in Hechingen by the Gestapo ahead of the deportation of the Jews from Wurttemberg and Hohenzollern in November of 1941. Additionally, he was a substitute caregiver, tending to the emotional and spiritual well-being of the deported. Being in this position, he received the notice for the so-called “evacuation” of Hechingen Jews.

On November 27, 1941, eleven Jews from Hechingen, including Leon and Mina Schmalzbach, were deported.