Ruqayyah Snyder
The von Trapp family, made famous by the musical and film *The Sound of Music*, fled Austria in 1938 to escape the Nazis. Their departure was far less dramatic than the film suggests. Instead of hiking over the mountains, the family took a train to Italy, where they had citizenship. They left just in time, as the next day the Austrian borders were sealed.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for escape | To escape the Nazis |
| Departure from Austria | By train to Italy, not over the Alps to Switzerland |
| Timing | In broad daylight, pretending it was a family vacation |
| Preparation | Told people they were going to America to sing |
| Timing | Left just in time, as the next day the Austrian borders were sealed |
| Travel companions | Musical conductor, Reverend Franz Wasner, and secretary, Martha Zochbauer |
| Route | Italy, then London, then by ship to New York |
What You'll Learn
The von Trapps' escape route
The Von Trapp family's escape route from Austria was far less dramatic than the one depicted in the film *The Sound of Music*. In the film, the family is shown fleeing Salzburg, Austria, under the cover of night, and hiking over the mountains to safety in Switzerland. However, in reality, such a journey would have taken them into Nazi Germany, not Switzerland.
The Von Trapps' actual escape route began in broad daylight, as they exited the gate at the rear of their villa and crossed the railroad tracks that ran behind it. From there, they boarded a train to Italy, where they had citizenship due to Captain Georg von Trapp's birthplace becoming Italian territory in 1920. The family travelled under the guise of a family vacation, and their departure from Austria was so uneventful that Salzburg residents saw them off at the train station. The Von Trapps left just in time, as the next day the Austrian borders were sealed.
From Italy, the family travelled to London, and then boarded a ship to New York to begin a concert tour in Pennsylvania. Their son Johannes was born in Philadelphia in January 1939. After their six-month visitors' visas expired, they returned to New York and were held at Ellis Island for investigation by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. They were released after a few days and continued their concert tour across the United States.
In the early 1940s, the Von Trapps settled in Stowe, Vermont, where they bought a farm and ran a music camp. In 1944, several members of the family applied for U.S. citizenship, and in 1948, they achieved it. The family opened the Trapp Family Lodge in 1950, which is still operating today and is owned and operated by descendants of the Von Trapp family.
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The von Trapps' reasons for leaving
The von Trapp family's reasons for leaving Austria are well documented, thanks in part to the popularity of the musical and film "The Sound of Music", which was based on Maria von Trapp's 1949 memoir, "The Story of the Trapp Family Singers". Here are some of the key reasons why the von Trapps left Austria:
- Opposition to the Nazi regime: The von Trapps were opposed to the Nazis and knew they were on thin ice with the regime. They refused to fly a Nazi flag above their home, declined a naval command for Georg, and refused to sing at Hitler's birthday party. They also disagreed with the Nazis' anti-religious propaganda and policies.
- Fear of persecution: The von Trapps were aware of the pervasive fear that those around them could be acting as spies for the Nazis, and they did not want to be complicit in the brainwashing of children against their parents. They knew they were being monitored and wanted to get out before it was too late.
- Loss of fortune: The von Trapps lost most of their wealth during the Great Depression when their bank failed in the early 1930s. This forced them to consider turning their love of singing into a profession, and they began performing as the Trapp Family Singers.
- Protection of their children: Georg von Trapp was protective of his children and did not want them to be on stage or in the public eye. However, the family's financial situation and the political climate forced them to make difficult choices.
- Weighing benefits and sacrifices: The von Trapps weighed the benefits of staying in Austria, such as the enticements offered by the Nazis, against the sacrifices of leaving. They would have to leave behind their friends, family, estate, and all their possessions. Ultimately, they decided they could not compromise their principles and left.
- A desire for a fresh start: Maria von Trapp, in particular, saw leaving Austria as a chance for a fresh start. She had a difficult childhood, having been orphaned at a young age and raised by an abusive relative. She also struggled with her health while cloistered in the abbey. Leaving Austria presented an opportunity for her to start a new life with her family.
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The von Trapps' preparation for the journey
The von Trapp family's escape from Austria was far less dramatic than its portrayal in The Sound of Music. In the film, the family are shown fleeing Salzburg by hiking over the mountains to Switzerland. In reality, the von Trapps simply walked out of the gate at the rear of their villa and crossed the railway tracks behind their home to board a train to Italy.
The family's preparation for the journey was minimal, as they wanted to arouse as little suspicion as possible. They pretended that they were going on a family vacation and told people that they were going to America to sing. They left with suitcases in tow, just as they would for a holiday.
The von Trapps' departure from Austria was well-timed, as they left just before the Austrian borders were sealed. They travelled with their musical conductor, Reverend Franz Wasner, and secretary, Martha Zochbauer.
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The von Trapps' life after Austria
The von Trapp family's life after Austria was marked by a series of journeys and performances as they embarked on a concert tour in the United States. They travelled to Italy, where they had citizenship due to Georg von Trapp's birthplace, and then on to London before boarding a ship to New York. They began their tour in Pennsylvania, and their son Johannes was born in Philadelphia in 1939.
When their six-month visas expired, the family took a short trip to Scandinavia and returned to New York, where they were held at Ellis Island for investigation by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. This was due to Maria von Trapp's enthusiastic declaration that she never wanted to leave America, which conflicted with the time frame stated on their visas. However, they were released after a few days and continued their tour.
In the early 1940s, the family settled in Stowe, Vermont, where they bought a farm and ran a music camp when they were not touring. They opened the Trapp Family Lodge in 1950, which is still operating today and is owned and operated by descendants of the von Trapp family. The family stopped touring in 1955, as most of the performers were no longer family members, and only Maria's iron will had kept the group together for so long.
Maria von Trapp passed away in 1987 and was buried alongside her husband, Georg, and their daughter, Martina. The family's story continues to inspire and captivate audiences through the musical and film adaptations of their lives.
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The von Trapps' feelings about leaving
The von Trapp family's escape from Austria was not as dramatic as the one depicted in the film "The Sound of Music". They left in broad daylight, pretending nothing, and boarded a train to Italy. However, the decision to leave was not an easy one, and the family had to weigh the benefits of staying against leaving behind everything they knew and loved.
The von Trapps were aware that they were on thin ice with the Nazi regime. They refused to fly a Nazi flag above their home, declined a naval command for Georg, and turned down an invitation to sing at Hitler's birthday party. They were also becoming increasingly aware of the Nazis' anti-religious propaganda and policies, as well as the pervasive fear of spies and the brainwashing of children.
In the end, the family decided that they could not compromise their principles and left Austria. They knew that they might never be able to return to their home, their friends, and their family. This was a difficult decision, but one that allowed them to stay true to their values and protect their safety.
While the von Trapps' escape may not have been as dramatic as the one portrayed in the film, it was nonetheless a courageous act of defiance against the Nazis. They chose to leave everything they knew behind in order to stay true to themselves and their beliefs. This decision ultimately allowed them to start a new life in America, where they could continue to pursue their love of music and find success as the Trapp Family Singers.
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Frequently asked questions
The von Trapps left Austria by train to Italy, where they had citizenship. They pretended to be going on a family vacation and left just in time, as the next day the Austrian borders were sealed.
The von Trapps left Austria to escape the Nazis. They refused to fly a Nazi flag above their home, refused to sing at Hitler's birthday party, and Georg von Trapp declined a naval command.
In The Sound of Music, the von Trapps are shown fleeing Salzburg, Austria, under the cover of night and hiking across the surrounding mountains to safety in Switzerland. In reality, if they had crossed the mountains, they would have ended up in Nazi Germany. The von Trapps' daughter, Maria, noted that they left in broad daylight, pretending nothing.
The von Trapps travelled to Italy, then to London, and eventually boarded a ship to America. During the early 1940s, they toured the United States as the Trapp Family Singers, and eventually settled in Stowe, Vermont, where they opened a guest lodge.
The von Trapps were a wealthy family living in a villa in Salzburg, Austria. They had servants and were musically inclined, with the children knowing how to play instruments such as the accordion, violin, and guitar. However, they lost most of their wealth during the Great Depression, and were offered enticements by the Nazis, such as greater fame as a singing group and a renewed naval career for Georg.
