Leslie Massey
The von Trapp family left Austria in 1938, fleeing the Nazi regime. The family patriarch, Georg von Trapp, had refused to fly the Nazi flag on their house and declined a naval command and a request to sing at Hitler's birthday party. The family travelled by train to Italy and then to the United States, where they earned money by performing and touring. They eventually settled in Stowe, Vermont, in 1941, and purchased a 660-acre farm in 1942, converting it into the Trapp Family Lodge.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year the von Trapp family left Austria | 1938 |
| Reason for leaving | To escape Nazi rule |
| Mode of transport | Train |
| First destination | Italy |
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What You'll Learn
- The Von Trapp family left Austria in 1938 to escape Nazi rule
- They settled in the United States, touring as the Trapp Family Singers
- The family purchased a farm in Stowe, Vermont, in 1941
- After World War II, they founded the Trapp Family Austrian Relief fund
- The Von Trapp family story inspired the musical and film, The Sound of Music
The Von Trapp family left Austria in 1938 to escape Nazi rule
The Von Trapp family, a respected Austrian singing group, left Austria in 1938 to escape the Nazi regime. The family was led by Georg von Trapp, who had served as a submarine commander in the Austro-Hungarian Navy during World War I. In the 1930s, he was faced with the technological advancements of Nazi Germany's U-boats, which were far superior to those he had commanded in the war. However, due to his hostility towards Nazi ideology, he declined any offers to join the Nazis.
Georg's refusal to cooperate with the Nazis put his family in a precarious situation. They were aware of the Nazis' anti-religious propaganda and policies, as well as the pervasive fear that their neighbours could be acting as spies. They also knew that the Nazis were trying to brainwash children against their parents. The family had to make a difficult decision: stay in Austria and enjoy the benefits offered by the Nazis, or leave behind everything they knew to stay true to their principles.
Ultimately, the Von Trapps chose to emigrate from Austria. They travelled by train to Italy and eventually made their way to the United States, where they settled in Stowe, Vermont, in 1941. They purchased a 660-acre farm in 1942 and converted it into the Trapp Family Lodge, which still operates today.
The family continued their singing career in the United States, performing and touring nationally and internationally as the "Trapp Family Choir" and later, the "Trapp Family Singers". They performed a unique mixture of liturgical music, madrigals, folk music, and instrumentals to audiences in over 30 countries for the next 20 years. Their story inspired a memoir, two German films, and the Broadway musical "The Sound of Music", which later became a popular film.
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They settled in the United States, touring as the Trapp Family Singers
The von Trapp family left Austria in 1938, fleeing the Nazi regime. They first travelled to Italy, as Georg von Trapp was an Italian citizen by birth. They then went to London, before settling in the United States.
The family had already visited the US and performed there before they decided to immigrate. They earned money by performing and touring nationally and internationally, first as the "Trapp Family Choir" and then as the "Trapp Family Singers", a name change suggested by their booking agent Frederick Christian Schang. Their performances included a unique mixture of liturgical music, madrigals, folk music, and instrumentals.
In 1941, the family settled in Stowe, Vermont, and purchased a 660-acre farm the following year, converting it into the Trapp Family Lodge, initially called "Cor Unum" (Latin for "One Heart"). After World War II, the von Trapps founded the Trapp Family Austrian Relief Fund, which sent food and clothing to impoverished people in Austria.
The Trapp Family Singers ceased to perform as a unit in 1957. However, their story and musical performances inspired a memoir, two German films, and the Rodgers and Hammerstein Broadway musical "The Sound of Music".
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The family purchased a farm in Stowe, Vermont, in 1941
The von Trapp family left Austria in 1938, fleeing the Nazi regime. After a short time in Italy, the family travelled to the United States, where they earned money by performing and touring. They settled in Philadelphia and then Merion, Pennsylvania, where their youngest child, Johannes, was born. In 1941, the von Trapps purchased a farm in Stowe, Vermont, marking a significant step in their journey to establish a new home and life in the United States.
The family's decision to leave Austria was driven by their strong opposition to Nazi ideology. Georg von Trapp, a decorated submarine commander during World War I, refused to fly the Nazi flag at his home and declined a naval command and an invitation to perform at Hitler's birthday party. With the German takeover of Austria in 1938, the family realised their safety and principles were at stake. They chose to leave behind their friends, family, estate, and possessions rather than compromise their values.
The von Trapp family's journey to the United States was facilitated by their talent in singing. They became known as the "Trapp Family Choir" and later, the "Trapp Family Singers," performing a unique blend of liturgical music, madrigals, folk music, and instrumentals. Their performances provided them with the financial means to establish themselves in their new country.
The purchase of the 660-acre farm in Stowe, Vermont, in 1941, allowed the family to put down roots and create a permanent residence. They converted the farm into the "Trapp Family Lodge," initially called "Cor Unum" (Latin for "One Heart"). The lodge became a base for the family's singing tours, and they continued to perform and tour nationally and internationally for the next 20 years.
The von Trapp family's story has become famous worldwide, serving as the basis for a memoir, multiple films, and the beloved musical and film "The Sound of Music." Their purchase of the farm in Stowe, Vermont, was a pivotal moment in their new life in the United States, providing them with a home and a means to continue their singing legacy.
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After World War II, they founded the Trapp Family Austrian Relief fund
The von Trapp family left Austria in the 1930s, amidst the deteriorating situation in the country in the lead-up to World War II. The family, who were a respected Austrian singing group, permanently immigrated to the United States, where they continued to perform and tour nationally and internationally.
After World War II, the von Trapp family founded the Trapp Family Austrian Relief fund to help those impoverished in Austria. The fund sent food and clothing to people in need. The family collected these donations at their concerts and also donated proceeds from souvenir sales. Over the years, the Trapp Family Austrian Relief Inc. sent 275,000 pounds of aid to Austria. The organisation was first chaired by Baron Captain Georg von Trapp, with his wife, Baroness Maria Augusta Kutschera von Trapp, serving as Second Chairman.
In recognition of their relief efforts, the von Trapp family received several awards. In 1949, Pope Pius XII awarded the family the Benemerenti Medal, which was accepted on their behalf by Baroness Maria Kutschera von Trapp. Three years later, in 1952, she was also honoured with the Dame of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre by Pope Pius XII. In 2007, the family's work was recognised once more when Tizzy von Trapp Walker, the daughter of Rupert von Trapp, was presented with the Egon Ranshofen-Wertheimer Award.
The von Trapp family's story has inspired a memoir, two German films, and the Rodgers and Hammerstein Broadway musical, 'The Sound of Music'. The family's musical style, which included liturgical music, madrigals, folk music, and instrumentals, differed from the crowd-pleasing numbers featured in the musical and film adaptations of their lives.
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The Von Trapp family story inspired the musical and film, The Sound of Music
The Von Trapp family's story inspired the musical and film, The Sound of Music. The real-life Von Trapp family were a respected Austrian singing group, with a unique repertoire of liturgical music, madrigals, folk music, and instrumentals. The family consisted of patriarch Georg von Trapp, matriarch Maria von Trapp, and their ten children, seven of whom were from Georg's first marriage.
The family's story began with Georg von Trapp, who was born in the Kingdom of Dalmatia, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and is known for being the most successful Austro-Hungarian submarine commander during World War I. After the war, he married Agathe Gobertina Whitehead, a member of the Austro-Hungarian nobility, with whom he had seven children. Tragically, Agathe and one of the children died of scarlet fever in 1922. In 1927, Georg married Maria Kutschera, who was 25 years his junior, and they had three more children.
In 1938, the Von Trapps fled Austria during the Nazi occupation. They left by train to Italy, as Georg was an Italian citizen by birth, and eventually settled in Vermont, USA, in 1941. They purchased a 660-acre farm in 1942 and converted it into the Trapp Family Lodge. The family performed and toured nationally and internationally, first as the ""Trapp Family Choir" and then as the "Trapp Family Singers." They became well-known for their unique style of music and performed in over 30 countries for 20 years.
Maria von Trapp wrote a memoir, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers, published in 1949, which inspired the Rodgers and Hammerstein Broadway musical The Sound of Music in 1959 and the subsequent 1965 film adaptation. The film, starring Julie Andrews as Maria, became a huge success, receiving five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and became the third-highest-grossing film of all time in the United States when adjusting for inflation. While the film took some liberties with the story, such as altering the timeline of events and the names of the children, it brought the inspiring story of the Von Trapp family to a worldwide audience.
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Frequently asked questions
The von Trapp family left Austria in 1938, the same year that the Nazis annexed the country.
The von Trapps were opposed to Nazi ideology and found themselves on thin ice with the new regime. They refused to fly the Nazi flag on their house, declined a naval command, and rejected a request to sing at Hitler's birthday party. They also disagreed with the Nazis' anti-religious propaganda and policies.
The von Trapp family initially travelled to Italy by train. They then toured the United States as the Trapp Family Singers before settling in Stowe, Vermont, in 1941.
The von Trapp family earned money by performing and touring nationally and internationally. They also founded the Trapp Family Austrian Relief fund after World War II, sending food and clothing to impoverished people in Austria.
