Ruqayyah Snyder
The Von Trapp family left Austria to escape the Nazi regime. After refusing to serve in the German Navy due to his opposition to Nazi ideology, Georg von Trapp, a former Austrian naval commander, realised his family was on thin ice with the Nazis. They decided to leave behind everything they knew and travelled by train to Italy, where Georg was an Italian citizen by birth.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for leaving Austria | To escape Nazi rule |
| Year of leaving Austria | 1938 |
| Means of transport | Train |
| First destination | Italy |
| Other destinations | The Hague, London, United States |
| Reason for leaving the US | Visa expiration |
| Year of returning to the US | 1939 |
| Reason for settling in the US | To escape the deteriorating situation in Austria leading up to World War II |
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What You'll Learn
- The von Trapps left Austria due to their opposition to Nazi ideology
- They declined to fly the Nazi flag and perform at Hitler's birthday party
- The family's exit from Austria was far less dramatic than its cinematic portrayal
- They travelled to Italy, not Switzerland, as Georg was an Italian citizen
- The von Trapps lost most of their fortune in a 1935 banking collapse in Austria
The von Trapps left Austria due to their opposition to Nazi ideology
The von Trapp family's opposition to Nazi ideology was the primary reason for their departure from Austria. Georg von Trapp, a former submarine commander and national hero in Austria, vehemently disagreed with Nazi principles and declined multiple offers from the Nazi regime. He refused to fly the Nazi flag at his home, declined a naval command, and rejected a request for his family choir to perform at Hitler's birthday concert.
Von Trapp's eldest son reinforced the family's anti-Nazi stance by refusing a medical position at a prestigious Vienna hospital that had recently fired all its Jewish doctors. Understanding the potential consequences of their actions, the von Trapps decided to emigrate from Nazi-occupied Austria. They chose to uphold their principles rather than accept the benefits and enticements offered by the Nazis, including greater fame for the family singing group, a prestigious medical career for one of the sons, and a renewed naval career for Georg.
The family's Italian citizenship, derived from Georg's place of birth, facilitated their escape. They boarded a train to Italy, leaving behind their friends, family, estate, and possessions. The von Trapps' decision to flee Austria reflected their strong opposition to Nazi rule and their unwillingness to compromise their values and integrity.
The von Trapps' story gained international recognition through the musical and film "The Sound of Music," which was loosely based on their experiences. However, the real-life von Trapps differed significantly from their on-screen portrayal, with the family describing Georg as a loving, attentive, and gentle father, contrary to his stern and distant depiction in the musical.
The family's singing group, the Trapp Family Singers, continued to perform and achieved success in the United States, where they settled, contributing to their lasting legacy.
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They declined to fly the Nazi flag and perform at Hitler's birthday party
The story of the von Trapp family has been depicted in various films and musicals, including the famous *The Sound of Music*. However, the real story of the family's escape from Austria is quite different from its portrayal in popular culture.
The von Trapp family, led by patriarch Georg von Trapp, left Austria due to their opposition to the Nazi regime. Georg von Trapp, a former Austrian naval commander, held strong anti-Nazi sentiments. He declined to fly the Nazi flag at his house and politely refused a request for his family choir to perform at Hitler's birthday concert. This decision put the family in a precarious situation as they went against a regime they despised.
Georg von Trapp's refusal to align with the Nazis was not an isolated incident. His eldest son also rejected the regime's anti-Semitic agenda and declined a prestigious medical position at a Vienna hospital that had fired all its Jewish doctors. Recognizing the potential consequences of their actions, Georg von Trapp summoned his children and warned them of the dangers of refusing Adolf Hitler's offers. The family ultimately chose to stand by their principles and emigrate from Nazi-controlled Austria.
The von Trapps' decision to leave their homeland was not taken lightly. They weighed the benefits of staying, such as greater fame as a singing group and renewed career opportunities, against the values they held dear. They chose to uphold their honour and integrity, even if it meant leaving behind their friends, family, estate, and possessions. This choice reflected their strong character and commitment to their beliefs.
The family's escape from Austria was not as dramatic as portrayed in *The Sound of Music*. In reality, they left by train, pretending nothing was amiss, and travelled to Italy, where Georg von Trapp held citizenship. They eventually made their way to the United States, where they continued their singing career and became known as the "Trapp Family Singers."
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The family's exit from Austria was far less dramatic than its cinematic portrayal
The von Trapp family's exit from Austria was far less dramatic than its cinematic portrayal in The Sound of Music. In the 1965 film, the family is shown escaping over the Swiss Alps, but in reality, they left by train to Italy, where Georg von Trapp was a citizen by birth. The family had already visited and performed in America and had a booking agent there who paid for their boat tickets to New York.
The von Trapps' decision to leave Austria was prompted by their opposition to the Nazi regime. When Adolf Hitler invaded Austria in 1938, Georg von Trapp refused to fly the Nazi flag on their house, declined a naval command, and rejected a request to sing at Hitler's birthday party. The family also became aware of the Nazis' anti-religious propaganda, the pervasive fear of spies, and the brainwashing of children against their parents.
After weighing their options, the von Trapps chose to emigrate from Nazi Austria rather than compromise their principles. They realized that they could not safely refuse three successive offers from Hitler, and so they decided to leave everything they knew behind. The family first travelled to Italy, where they stayed for some time before moving on to other European countries, including the Netherlands and London. They eventually settled in the United States, where they became known as the "Trapp Family Singers."
The von Trapp family's story has been depicted in various adaptations, including the 1965 film The Sound of Music, two German films, and a Broadway musical. However, these adaptations often altered the portrayal of the family and the timeline of events. For example, the film changed the names and genders of the seven eldest von Trapp children and portrayed Georg von Trapp in a more negative light as a disciplinary man who did not care for his children. In reality, he has been described as a warm and loving father in his second wife Maria's memoir, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers.
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They travelled to Italy, not Switzerland, as Georg was an Italian citizen
The von Trapp family, led by patriarch Georg von Trapp, left Austria due to the deteriorating political situation in the country in the lead-up to World War II. They fled the Nazi regime and the annexation of Austria in 1938, first escaping to Italy, not Switzerland, as Georg was an Italian citizen by birth.
Georg von Trapp was a highly decorated national hero and a captain in the Austrian navy during World War I. He was born in 1880 in the Kingdom of Dalmatia, then a crown land of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and now in Croatia. His father, August Trapp, was a naval officer who had been elevated to the Austrian nobility, which entitled him and his descendants to the style of 'Ritter' (Knight).
After the end of World War I and the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Austria lost its coastline, and the navy was disbanded, leaving von Trapp without employment. He had achieved the country's highest award for his service and commanded submarines with valour, earning him numerous decorations, including the prestigious Military Order of Maria Theresa. However, with the rise of the Nazi regime, von Trapp found himself and his family in a precarious situation. He refused to fly the Nazi flag on their house, declined a naval command, and rejected a request to sing at Hitler's birthday party.
The family also became aware of the Nazis' anti-religious propaganda, the pervasive fear of spies, and the brainwashing of children against their parents. They weighed these concerns against the enticements offered by the Nazis, such as greater fame for the singing group, a medical doctor's position, and a renewed naval career for Georg. Ultimately, they decided they could not compromise their principles and chose to leave Austria.
On leaving Austria, the von Trapps travelled by train to Italy, where they held citizenship due to Georg's place of birth. They stayed for a few months in the Netherlands as guests of a Dutch banker before moving on to London and then the United States. They had already visited and performed in America and had connections with a booking agent there. However, after their visas expired, they briefly returned to Europe before permanently settling in Vermont, where they purchased a farm in 1942.
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The von Trapps lost most of their fortune in a 1935 banking collapse in Austria
The von Trapp family's decision to leave Austria was influenced by a range of factors, including their opposition to the Nazi regime, the deteriorating political situation in the country, and the loss of their fortune in the 1935 banking collapse in Austria.
The loss of the family's wealth played a significant role in their eventual departure. In 1935, Georg von Trapp transferred most of his money, inherited from his first wife, from a bank in England to an Austrian bank to support a friend in the banking industry. However, the Austrian bank failed, resulting in the loss of a substantial portion of the family's fortune. This financial setback occurred during a period of economic instability in Austria, as the country faced pressure from a hostile Germany.
The impact of the lost fortune on the family's financial stability is evident in their subsequent actions. Maria von Trapp, Georg's second wife, tightened their expenses by dismissing servants and taking in boarders. The family also began to consider turning their hobby of singing into a professional endeavour to earn a livelihood. They started performing in local churches and gained recognition, eventually touring and performing in various European countries.
However, the political situation in Austria was becoming increasingly precarious. When Adolf Hitler invaded Austria in 1938, the von Trapps, strongly opposed to Nazi ideology, realized they could not safely remain in the country. Georg von Trapp declined offers of a naval command and a position for his son at a prestigious hospital, understanding that refusing these enticements would put them at risk.
Faced with the choice between their principles and their comfort, the von Trapps chose the former and decided to leave Austria. They first travelled to Italy, where they stayed for a while before moving on to other European countries and eventually immigrating to the United States. Their departure from Austria was not only a response to the political climate but also shaped by the financial challenges they faced due to the 1935 banking collapse.
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Frequently asked questions
Captain von Trapp and his family left Austria to escape the Nazis.
Yes, the von Trapps were Austrian. They left Austria for Italy, as Georg was an Italian citizen by birth.
No, they did not climb over the Swiss Alps as depicted in the 1965 film *The Sound of Music*. They left for Italy by train.
No, Georg's daughter, Maria, said that they "left by train, pretending nothing."
No, they travelled to Italy, the Netherlands, and London before settling in the United States.
