Georg Ritter von Trapp
Encyclopedia
Korvettenkapitän
Georg Ludwig Ritter von Trapp (April 4, 1880 – May 30, 1947), known as Baron von Trapp, was an Austro-Hungarian Navy
officer. His exploits at sea during World War I
earned him numerous decorations, including the prestigious Military Order of Maria Theresa
. The story of his family served as the inspiration for the musical The Sound of Music
.
, Kingdom of Dalmatia
, then a Crown Land of the Austro-Hungarian Empire
, now Zadar in Croatia
. His father, Fregattenkapitän
August Trapp, was a naval officer who had been elevated to the Austrian nobility
in 1876 which entitled him and his descendants to the style of Ritter
(Knight) von in the case of male and von in the case of female offspring.
August Ritter von Trapp died in 1884, when Georg was four. His mother was Hedwig Wepler. Von Trapp's older sister was the Austrian artist Hede von Trapp
. His brother, Werner von Trapp, died in World War I in 1915.
In 1894, von Trapp followed in his father's footsteps and entered the Austro-Hungarian Navy
, entering the naval academy at Fiume (Rijeka
). He graduated four years later and completed two years of follow-on training voyages including a trip to Australia
. In 1900 he was assigned to the armored cruiser
Kaiserin und Königin Maria Theresia and was decorated for his performance during the Boxer Rebellion
. In 1902 he passed the officer's examination. He was fascinated by submarine
s, and in 1908 he seized the opportunity to be transferred to the newly-formed U-boot-Waffe. In 1910 he was given command of the newly-constructed U-6, which was christened by Agathe Whitehead, granddaughter of the Englishman Robert Whitehead
, inventor of the torpedo
. He commanded U-6 until 1913.
On April 22, 1915, von Trapp took command of U-5 and conducted nine combat patrols. While in command of the U-5 he sank the following:-
He captured:
He is sometimes credited with sinking the Italian troop transport Principe Umberto
, but in reality, this was sunk by U-5 under von Trapp's successor Friedrich Schlosser (1885–1959) on June 8, 1916, after von Trapp was transferred to the U-14.
On October 14, 1915, he was transferred to the captured French submarine Curie, which the Austrian Navy redesignated U-14.
While in command of U-14, he sank:
He conducted ten more war patrols, until, in May 1918, he was promoted to Korvettenkapitän
(equal to Lieutenant Commander
) and given command of the submarine base
in the Gulf of Kotor.
At the end of World War I, von Trapp's wartime record stood at 19 war patrols; 11 cargo vessels totalling 45,669 tons sunk, plus the Léon Gambetta and Nereide and 1 cargo vessel captured. Among other honors, he received the Knight's Cross of the Military Order of Maria Theresa
.
The end of the First World War saw the defeat and collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In the process, Austria was reduced in size to its German-speaking core – losing its seacoast – and had no further need for a navy, leaving von Trapp without a job.
and a granddaughter of Robert Whitehead
, the inventor of the torpedo
. It was she who had christened the U-boat U-6, his first command.
Agathe's inherited wealth sustained the couple and permitted them to start a family. Their first child, Rupert
, was born on November 1, 1911, at Pola
. The family lived at Pina Budicina 11. The Villa Trapp is at Pina Budicina 11 at 44°52′10.40"N 13°50′29.43"E The marriage produced six more children: Agathe
, also born at Pola; Maria Franziska; Werner
; Hedwig
; and Johanna
; all born at Zell am See
at the family home—the ErlhofThe Erlhof is at 47°18′46.88"N 12°48′59.53"E--and Martina
, born at Klosterneuburg
at the family home, the Martinsschlössel.The Martinsschlössel is at 48°18′48.04"N 16°19′10.47"E
On September 3, 1922, Agathe Whitehead died of scarlet fever
contracted from her daughter Agathe. The family purchased a villa in Aigen
, a suburb of Salzburg
, and moved in 1924.The family villa in Aigen
is at 47°47′19.59"N 13°4′53.00"E About 1926 Maria Franziska was recovering from an illness and was unable to attend school, so von Trapp hired Maria Augusta Kutschera
, from the nearby Nonnberg Abbey
, as a tutor.
, born January 17, 1939, in Philadelphia, bringing the total number of von Trapp's children to ten.
Faced with an impossible situation of little or no money and a husband incapable of providing for her or for the family, Maria took charge and began to make arrangements for the family to sing at various events as a way of earning a livelihood. At about that time, a Catholic priest, Franz Wasner
, around Maria's age, came to live with them and became the group's musical director. Maria also entrusted the priest with management of the family's finances as treasurer of the Trapp Family Austrian Relief fund.
Around 1936 Lotte Lehmann
heard the family sing, and she suggested they perform paid concerts. When the Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg heard them on the radio, he invited them to perform in Vienna
.
According to Maria von Trapp's memoirs, Captain von Trapp found himself in an awkward situation in 1936. He had been offered a prestigious commission in Germany
's naval forces. Already anti-Nazi, he chanced to observe Adolf Hitler
and other Nazi luminaries behaving crudely in a Munich
restaurant, which sealed his decision to turn down the offer. Contrary to the plot of The Sound of Music, von Trapp was in no danger of being forced to join the Navy of the Third Reich as Austria
was not yet under German control. The incident still drew the Trapps' attention to the growing political situation and they decided to leave Austria.
In another separation of real life and drama, since the Captain had been born into what later became the Italian territory of Zara, the family were all Italian citizens as a result. Therefore, the family left Austria for Italy
by train in broad daylight, rather than by hiking over the mountains outside Salzburg to Switzerland
in the middle of the night as in the The Sound of Music.
The family then sailed to the United States
for their first concert tour, then went back to Europe to tour Scandinavia
in 1939. During this time, they went back to Salzburg for a few months before returning to Sweden to finish the tour. From there, they traveled to Norway to begin the trip back to the United States in September 1939.
After living for a short time in Merion, Pennsylvania
, where they welcomed their youngest child, Johannes, the family settled in Stowe, Vermont
, in 1941. They purchased a 660 acres (2.7 km²) farm in 1942 and converted it into the Trapp Family Lodge
. They built a home which they named Cor Unum (One Heart).
In January 1947, Major General Harry J. Collins
turned to the von Trapp family in the USA pleading for help for the Austrian people, having seen the residents of Salzburg
suffer when he had arrived there with the famed 42nd Rainbow Division after World War II. The Trapp Family founded the Trapp Family Austrian Relief, Inc.
Von Trapp died of lung cancer
on May 30, 1947, in Stowe, Vermont
.
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
Georg Ludwig Ritter von Trapp (April 4, 1880 – May 30, 1947), known as Baron von Trapp, was an Austro-Hungarian Navy
Austro-Hungarian Navy
The Austro-Hungarian Navy was the naval force of Austria-Hungary. Its official name in German was Kaiserliche und Königliche Kriegsmarine , abbreviated as k.u.k. Kriegsmarine....
officer. His exploits at sea during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
earned him numerous decorations, including the prestigious Military Order of Maria Theresa
Military Order of Maria Theresa
The Military Order of Maria Theresa was an Order of the Austro-Hungarian Empire founded on June 18, 1757, the day of the Battle of Kolin, by the Empress...
. The story of his family served as the inspiration for the musical The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music is a musical by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It is based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers...
.
Birth and naval career
Georg Ludwig Ritter von Trapp was born in ZaraZadar
Zadar is a city in Croatia on the Adriatic Sea. It is the centre of Zadar county and the wider northern Dalmatian region. Population of the city is 75,082 citizens...
, Kingdom of Dalmatia
Kingdom of Dalmatia
The Kingdom of Dalmatia was an administrative division of the Habsburg Monarchy from 1815 to 1918. Its capital was Zadar.-History:...
, then a Crown Land of the Austro-Hungarian Empire
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
, now Zadar in Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
. His father, Fregattenkapitän
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
August Trapp, was a naval officer who had been elevated to the Austrian nobility
Austrian nobility
Historically, the Austrian nobility was a privileged social class in Austria. The nobility was officially abolished in 1919 after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Former noble families and their descendants are still a part of Austrian society today, but they no longer retain any specific...
in 1876 which entitled him and his descendants to the style of Ritter
Ritter
Ritter is a designation used as a title of nobility in German-speaking areas. Traditionally it denotes the second lowest rank within the nobility, standing above "Edler" and below "Freiherr"...
(Knight) von in the case of male and von in the case of female offspring.
August Ritter von Trapp died in 1884, when Georg was four. His mother was Hedwig Wepler. Von Trapp's older sister was the Austrian artist Hede von Trapp
Hede von Trapp
Hede von Trapp was an Austrian poet, painter and graphic designer of Art Nouveau.- Biography:...
. His brother, Werner von Trapp, died in World War I in 1915.
In 1894, von Trapp followed in his father's footsteps and entered the Austro-Hungarian Navy
Austro-Hungarian Navy
The Austro-Hungarian Navy was the naval force of Austria-Hungary. Its official name in German was Kaiserliche und Königliche Kriegsmarine , abbreviated as k.u.k. Kriegsmarine....
, entering the naval academy at Fiume (Rijeka
Rijeka
Rijeka is the principal seaport and the third largest city in Croatia . It is located on Kvarner Bay, an inlet of the Adriatic Sea and has a population of 128,735 inhabitants...
). He graduated four years later and completed two years of follow-on training voyages including a trip to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. In 1900 he was assigned to the armored cruiser
Armored cruiser
The armored cruiser was a type of warship of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Like other types of cruiser, the armored cruiser was a long-range, independent warship, capable of defeating any ship apart from a battleship, and fast enough to outrun any battleships it encountered.The first...
Kaiserin und Königin Maria Theresia and was decorated for his performance during the Boxer Rebellion
Boxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion, also called the Boxer Uprising by some historians or the Righteous Harmony Society Movement in northern China, was a proto-nationalist movement by the "Righteous Harmony Society" , or "Righteous Fists of Harmony" or "Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists" , in China between...
. In 1902 he passed the officer's examination. He was fascinated by submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
s, and in 1908 he seized the opportunity to be transferred to the newly-formed U-boot-Waffe. In 1910 he was given command of the newly-constructed U-6, which was christened by Agathe Whitehead, granddaughter of the Englishman Robert Whitehead
Robert Whitehead
Robert Whitehead was an English engineer. He developed the first effective self-propelled naval torpedo. His company, located in the Austrian naval centre in Fiume, was the world leader in torpedo development and production up to the First World War.- Early life:He was born the son of a...
, inventor of the torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
. He commanded U-6 until 1913.
On April 22, 1915, von Trapp took command of U-5 and conducted nine combat patrols. While in command of the U-5 he sank the following:-
- the French armored cruiser at 39.30N, 18.15E on April 21, 1915, 25 kilometres (15.5 mi) south of Cape Santa Maria di Leuca,
- the Italian submarine at 42.23N, 16.16E on August 5, 1915, 250 metres off Pelagosa (Palagruža) IslandPalagružaPalagruža is a small, remote archipelago of dolomite in the middle of the Adriatic Sea in Croatia. It consists of one main island, called Vela or Velika Palagruža, and one smaller one, Mala Palagruža, and there are twenty or so other closely associated rocks or reefs...
.
He captured:
- the Greek steamer Cefalonia off Durazzo on August 29, 1915.
He is sometimes credited with sinking the Italian troop transport Principe Umberto
SS Principe Umberto
SS Principe Umberto was an Italian passenger and refrigerated cargo ship built in 1908 for Navigazione Generale Italiana. During World War I, Principe Umberto served as an armed merchant cruiser...
, but in reality, this was sunk by U-5 under von Trapp's successor Friedrich Schlosser (1885–1959) on June 8, 1916, after von Trapp was transferred to the U-14.
On October 14, 1915, he was transferred to the captured French submarine Curie, which the Austrian Navy redesignated U-14.
While in command of U-14, he sank:
- the British tanker Teakwood at 36.39N, 21.10E on April 28, 1917,
- the Italian steamer Antonio Sciesa at 36.39N, 21.15E on May 3, 1917,
- the Greek steamer Marionga Goulandris at 35.38N, 22.36E on July 5, 1917,
- the French steamer Constance at 36.51N, 17.25E on August 23, 1917,
- the British steamer Kilwinning at 35.26N, 16.30E on August 24, 1917,
- the British steamer Titian at 34.20N, 17.30E on August 26, 1917,
- the British steamer Nairn at 34.05N, 19.20E on August 28, 1917,
- the Italian steamer at 34.44N, 19.16E on August 29, 1917,
- the British steamer Good Hope at 35.53N, 17.05E on October 18, 1917,
- the British steamer Elsiston at 35.40N, 17.28E on October 18, 1917,
- the Italian steamer Capo Di Monte at 34.53N, 19.50E on October 23, 1917.
He conducted ten more war patrols, until, in May 1918, he was promoted to Korvettenkapitän
Corvette Captain
Corvette captain is a rank in many navies which theoretically corresponds to command of a corvette . The equivalent rank in the United Kingdom, Commonwealth and USA is lieutenant commander...
(equal to Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
) and given command of the submarine base
Submarine base
A submarine base is a military base that shelters submarines and their personnel.Examples of present-day submarine bases include HMNB Clyde, Île Longue , Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Naval Submarine Base New London, and Rybachiy Nuclear Submarine Base .The Israeli navy bases its growing submarine...
in the Gulf of Kotor.
At the end of World War I, von Trapp's wartime record stood at 19 war patrols; 11 cargo vessels totalling 45,669 tons sunk, plus the Léon Gambetta and Nereide and 1 cargo vessel captured. Among other honors, he received the Knight's Cross of the Military Order of Maria Theresa
Military Order of Maria Theresa
The Military Order of Maria Theresa was an Order of the Austro-Hungarian Empire founded on June 18, 1757, the day of the Battle of Kolin, by the Empress...
.
The end of the First World War saw the defeat and collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In the process, Austria was reduced in size to its German-speaking core – losing its seacoast – and had no further need for a navy, leaving von Trapp without a job.
First marriage
Von Trapp was first married to Agathe Whitehead, who was a niece of St John Brodrick, 1st Earl of MidletonSt John Brodrick, 1st Earl of Midleton
William St John Fremantle Brodrick, 1st Earl of Midleton, KP, PC , known as St John Brodrick until 1907 and as The Viscount Midleton between 1907 and 1920, was a British Conservative Party politician....
and a granddaughter of Robert Whitehead
Robert Whitehead
Robert Whitehead was an English engineer. He developed the first effective self-propelled naval torpedo. His company, located in the Austrian naval centre in Fiume, was the world leader in torpedo development and production up to the First World War.- Early life:He was born the son of a...
, the inventor of the torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
. It was she who had christened the U-boat U-6, his first command.
Agathe's inherited wealth sustained the couple and permitted them to start a family. Their first child, Rupert
Rupert von Trapp
Rupert Georg von Trapp was a member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the play and film The Sound of Music. He was portrayed as the character "Friedrich".-Biography:...
, was born on November 1, 1911, at Pola
Pula
Pula is the largest city in Istria County, Croatia, situated at the southern tip of the Istria peninsula, with a population of 62,080 .Like the rest of the region, it is known for its mild climate, smooth sea, and unspoiled nature. The city has a long tradition of winemaking, fishing,...
. The family lived at Pina Budicina 11. The Villa Trapp is at Pina Budicina 11 at 44°52′10.40"N 13°50′29.43"E The marriage produced six more children: Agathe
Agathe von Trapp
Agathe Johanna Erwina Gobertina von Trapp was the eldest daughter of Georg von Trapp and Agathe Whitehead. She was a member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the play and film The Sound of Music...
, also born at Pola; Maria Franziska; Werner
Werner von Trapp
Werner Ritter von Trapp was the second-oldest son of Georg Ritter von Trapp and Agathe Whitehead. He was a member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the play and movie The Sound of Music...
; Hedwig
Hedwig von Trapp
Hedwig Maria Adolphine Gobertina von Trapp was the fifth child of Georg Ludwig von Trapp and his first wife Agathe Whitehead . She was a member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the play and movie The Sound of Music...
; and Johanna
Johanna von Trapp
Johanna Karolina von Trapp was the sixth child of Georg Ludwig von Trapp and his first wife Agathe Whitehead . She was a member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the play and film The Sound of Music. She was portrayed as the character "Marta".-Early life:Johanna was...
; all born at Zell am See
Zell am See
Zell am See is the capital city of the Zell am See district in the Austrian state of Salzburg. The city has about 10,000 inhabitants.Zell am See is a tourist destination and a transportation hub for the region...
at the family home—the ErlhofThe Erlhof is at 47°18′46.88"N 12°48′59.53"E--and Martina
Martina von Trapp
Martina von Trapp was a member of the Trapp Family Singers and was the seventh child of Georg Ludwig von Trapp and his first wife, Agathe Whitehead. She was a member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the play and movie The Sound of Music...
, born at Klosterneuburg
Klosterneuburg
Klosterneuburg is an attractive small town in Lower Austria, Austria with a population of 24,442.It is located on the Danube, immediately north of Vienna, from which it is separated by the Kahlenberg and Leopoldsberg hills...
at the family home, the Martinsschlössel.The Martinsschlössel is at 48°18′48.04"N 16°19′10.47"E
On September 3, 1922, Agathe Whitehead died of scarlet fever
Scarlet fever
Scarlet fever is a disease caused by exotoxin released by Streptococcus pyogenes. Once a major cause of death, it is now effectively treated with antibiotics...
contracted from her daughter Agathe. The family purchased a villa in Aigen
Aigen
Aigen is a district in the city of Salzburg, Salzburgerland, Austria and is known as one of the most expensive residential areas of the provincial capital.It is one of the 24 districts in which Salzburg is organized...
, a suburb of Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
, and moved in 1924.The family villa in Aigen
Aigen
Aigen is a district in the city of Salzburg, Salzburgerland, Austria and is known as one of the most expensive residential areas of the provincial capital.It is one of the 24 districts in which Salzburg is organized...
is at 47°47′19.59"N 13°4′53.00"E About 1926 Maria Franziska was recovering from an illness and was unable to attend school, so von Trapp hired Maria Augusta Kutschera
Maria von Trapp
Maria Augusta von Trapp , also known as Baroness Maria von Trapp, was the stepmother and matriarch of the Trapp Family Singers...
, from the nearby Nonnberg Abbey
Nonnberg Abbey
Nonnberg Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in Salzburg, Austria.It was founded ca. 714 by Saint Rupert of Salzburg and is the oldest women's religious house in the German-speaking world...
, as a tutor.
Second marriage
Von Trapp, 47, married Maria, 22, on November 26, 1927. They had three children: Rosmarie, born February 8, 1929, in Salzburg, Austria; Eleonore, born May 14, 1931, in Salzburg; and JohannesJohannes von Trapp
Johannes von Trapp is a former member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the play and movie The Sound of Music...
, born January 17, 1939, in Philadelphia, bringing the total number of von Trapp's children to ten.
Later life
In 1935, von Trapp's money, inherited from his first wife, was invested in a bank in England. At that time, however, Austria was under economic pressure from a hostile Germany, and Austrian banks were in a precarious position. To help a friend in the banking business, Auguste Caroline Lammer (1885–1937), von Trapp withdrew most of his money from London and deposited it in an Austrian bank; unfortunately, it failed, wiping out most of the family's fortune. As Maria further indicates in her book, von Trapp was thoroughly demoralized and depressed at this turn of events, but was unable to engage in other gainful activities, believing that it was beneath the dignity of the family to sing in public or otherwise work for a living. Prior to the loss of the family fortune, the family had engaged in singing as a hobby.Faced with an impossible situation of little or no money and a husband incapable of providing for her or for the family, Maria took charge and began to make arrangements for the family to sing at various events as a way of earning a livelihood. At about that time, a Catholic priest, Franz Wasner
Franz Wasner
Franz Mathias Wasner was the director and conductor of the Trapp Family Singers and a missionary.-Biography:Wasner was born on December 28, 1905, in Feldkirchen, a small town in Upper Austria....
, around Maria's age, came to live with them and became the group's musical director. Maria also entrusted the priest with management of the family's finances as treasurer of the Trapp Family Austrian Relief fund.
Around 1936 Lotte Lehmann
Lotte Lehmann
Charlotte "Lotte" Lehmann was a German soprano who was especially associated with German repertory. She gave memorable performances in the operas of Richard Strauss, Richard Wagner, Ludwig van Beethoven, Puccini, Mozart and Massenet. The Marschallin in Der Rosenkavalier was considered her greatest...
heard the family sing, and she suggested they perform paid concerts. When the Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg heard them on the radio, he invited them to perform in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
.
According to Maria von Trapp's memoirs, Captain von Trapp found himself in an awkward situation in 1936. He had been offered a prestigious commission in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
's naval forces. Already anti-Nazi, he chanced to observe Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
and other Nazi luminaries behaving crudely in a Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
restaurant, which sealed his decision to turn down the offer. Contrary to the plot of The Sound of Music, von Trapp was in no danger of being forced to join the Navy of the Third Reich as Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
was not yet under German control. The incident still drew the Trapps' attention to the growing political situation and they decided to leave Austria.
In another separation of real life and drama, since the Captain had been born into what later became the Italian territory of Zara, the family were all Italian citizens as a result. Therefore, the family left Austria for Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
by train in broad daylight, rather than by hiking over the mountains outside Salzburg to Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
in the middle of the night as in the The Sound of Music.
The family then sailed to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for their first concert tour, then went back to Europe to tour Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
in 1939. During this time, they went back to Salzburg for a few months before returning to Sweden to finish the tour. From there, they traveled to Norway to begin the trip back to the United States in September 1939.
After living for a short time in Merion, Pennsylvania
Merion, Pennsylvania
Merion Station is an unincorporated community in Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is contiguous to Philadelphia and is also bordered by Wynnewood, Narberth, and Bala Cynwyd...
, where they welcomed their youngest child, Johannes, the family settled in Stowe, Vermont
Stowe, Vermont
Stowe is a town in Lamoille County, Vermont, United States. The population was 4,339 at the 2000 census. Tourism is a significant industry.-Geography:...
, in 1941. They purchased a 660 acres (2.7 km²) farm in 1942 and converted it into the Trapp Family Lodge
Trapp Family Lodge
The Trapp Family Lodge is a , three-and-a-half-star resort located in Stowe, Vermont, United States. The lodge is managed by Sam von Trapp and his father Johannes von Trapp.- History :...
. They built a home which they named Cor Unum (One Heart).
In January 1947, Major General Harry J. Collins
Harry J. Collins
Harry J. Collins , was an Army Major General.-Biography:He was born on December 7, 1895 in Chicago, Illinois....
turned to the von Trapp family in the USA pleading for help for the Austrian people, having seen the residents of Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
suffer when he had arrived there with the famed 42nd Rainbow Division after World War II. The Trapp Family founded the Trapp Family Austrian Relief, Inc.
Von Trapp died of lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
on May 30, 1947, in Stowe, Vermont
Stowe, Vermont
Stowe is a town in Lamoille County, Vermont, United States. The population was 4,339 at the 2000 census. Tourism is a significant industry.-Geography:...
.
Children
| Name | Mother | Birth | Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rupert Rupert von Trapp Rupert Georg von Trapp was a member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the play and film The Sound of Music. He was portrayed as the character "Friedrich".-Biography:... |
Agathe Whitehead | November 1, 1911 | He married Henriette Lajoie (1927) in 1947 and had two sons and four daughters; they later divorced. He later married Janice Tyre (1920–1994), and had no children with her. He was a physician. | |
| Agathe Agathe von Trapp Agathe Johanna Erwina Gobertina von Trapp was the eldest daughter of Georg von Trapp and Agathe Whitehead. She was a member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the play and film The Sound of Music... |
March 12, 1913 | She worked as a singer and an artist, and lived in Baltimore, Maryland. Agatha also ran a kindergarten with her longtime friend of 50 years, Mary Louise Kane, at the Sacred Heart Catholic parish in Glyndon, Maryland Glyndon, Maryland Glyndon, Maryland is an unincorporated community in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. Founded in 1871 by Dr. Charles A. Leas, the village is located in the northwest section of Baltimore County and serves primarily as a residential suburb of metropolitan Baltimore City... . She had no children. |
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| 28 September 1914 (age 97) | She worked as a singer and missionary in Papua New Guinea, now lives in Vermont, no children. In 2008 she visited the ancestral home. | |||
| Werner Werner von Trapp Werner Ritter von Trapp was the second-oldest son of Georg Ritter von Trapp and Agathe Whitehead. He was a member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the play and movie The Sound of Music... |
He married Erika Klambauer in 1948 and had four sons and two daughters, including Elisabeth von Trapp Elisabeth von Trapp -Biography:Elisabeth von Trapp is the granddaughter of Agathe Whitehead and Georg Ritter von Trapp and the daughter of Werner von Trapp. The Trapp Family Singers, which Maria and Georg founded in Austria and brought with them to the United States when they escaped Austria in 1938, included... . |
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| Hedwig Hedwig von Trapp Hedwig Maria Adolphine Gobertina von Trapp was the fifth child of Georg Ludwig von Trapp and his first wife Agathe Whitehead . She was a member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the play and movie The Sound of Music... |
July 28, 1917 | She worked as a teacher, lived in Austria and died of asthma, no children. | ||
| Johanna Johanna von Trapp Johanna Karolina von Trapp was the sixth child of Georg Ludwig von Trapp and his first wife Agathe Whitehead . She was a member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the play and film The Sound of Music. She was portrayed as the character "Marta".-Early life:Johanna was... |
September 7, 1919 | She married Ernst Florian Winter Ernst Florian Winter Ernst Florian Winter is an Austrian-American historian and political scientist, first director of the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna after World War II and chairman of the International Council of the Austrian Service Abroad.... in 1948 and had three sons, one died, and four daughters. She lived in Vienna Vienna Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre... and died there. |
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| Martina Martina von Trapp Martina von Trapp was a member of the Trapp Family Singers and was the seventh child of Georg Ludwig von Trapp and his first wife, Agathe Whitehead. She was a member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the play and movie The Sound of Music... |
February 17, 1921 | In 1949, she married Jean Dupiere (died before 1998). She died of complications during childbirth and had a stillborn daughter. | ||
| Rosmarie | Maria Kutschera | 8 February 1928 (age 83) or 1929 | The family uses the year 1929 for her birth but gave 1928 twice under oath to obtain US citizenship. Rosmarie worked as a singer and missionary in Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands... . She most recently lived in Pittsburgh, and had no children. |
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| Eleonore | 14 May 1931 (age 80) | She married Hugh David Campbell in 1954 and has seven daughters. She lives with her family in Waitsfield, Vermont Waitsfield, Vermont Waitsfield is a town in Washington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,659 at the 2000 census. It was created by Vermont charter on February 25, 1782... . |
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| Johannes Johannes von Trapp Johannes von Trapp is a former member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the play and movie The Sound of Music... |
17 January 1939 (age 73) | Married 1969 to Lynne Peterson and has one son, Sam von Trapp, and one daughter, Kristina von Trapp-Frame. Johannes manages the family resort in Stowe, Vermont Stowe, Vermont Stowe is a town in Lamoille County, Vermont, United States. The population was 4,339 at the 2000 census. Tourism is a significant industry.-Geography:... , with his son Sam. |