The rise to power of the Nazi party in 1933 resulted in government support for gliding, and, in 1937, Elisabeth Hartmann helped set up a flying school at Weil im Schönbuch, where 14-year-old Hartmann became an instructor.
Hartmannova letalska kariera se je pričela z vključitvijo v jadralno-letalski program "Luftwaffe", kjer ga je letenja učila njegova mati, ena prvih ženskih jadralnih pilotk v Nemčiji.