Elisabeth Hartnagel (then Scholl) grew up together with her siblings Inge (1917–1998), Hans (1918–1943), Sophie (1921–1943) and Werner (1922–1944) as well as half-brother Ernst Gruele (1915–1991) until 1930 in Forchtenberg, from 1930 to 1932 in Ludwigsburg and from 1932 in Ulm.
Her siblings initially enthusiastically followed National Socialism and were members of the League of German Girls or Hitler Youth, but later became disillusioned with the Nazi Regime.
Four days later, on February 22, Hans and Sophie Scholl and their fellow student Christoph Probst were sentenced to death in Munich by the People's Court chaired by Judge Roland Freisler, who came from Berlin for the sole purpose of the trial.
At the funeral of Hans and Sophie Scholl on February 24, the parents and siblings Inge, Elisabeth and Werner were present.
Three days later, on Elisabeth's 23rd birthday, the entire Scholl family was taken into custody in Ulm, except for brother Werner, who was on his way back to the Soviet front after his home leave.