The Von Trapp Family

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The Von Trapp Family

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Introduction

• The Von Trapps were a family of singers and
  artists in the Austrian mountains. The movie
  Sound of Music shows the family differently than
  who they were in reality. Among them were Maria
  Von Trapp, Captain George Ritter Von Trapp, and
  the Von Trapp children, Rosemarie, 1928-
  Eleonore, 1931- and Johannes, 1939.

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Maria Von Trapp

• In the Sound of Music, Maria Von Trapp is
  portrayed as the epitome of religious devotion,
  is always happy, and has many siblings whom she
  is raised with. In reality, however she had a
  very strict and lonely upbringing without
  siblings, and was raised, by an elderly cousin,
  to be a socialist and an atheist. She became
  cynical towards all religion.

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• Her beliefs later changed after a chance
  meeting with a Jesuit priest who was visiting her
  college. She entered a church thinking she was
  going to a Bach concert, this sermon changed her
  life. She soon after became completely devoted to
  a convent which she joined. Though devoted to the
  convent she was taken away from the outdoor
  activities she thrived on and soon fell ill.

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• The decision was made by her doctor to send her
  to the home of retired naval captain George
  Ritter Von Trapp. In the movie Sound of Music she
  was governess to all of his children, but in
  reality she only took care of one child who had
  rheumatic fever. She never returned to the
  convent like the movie said. Maria and George
  were later married and had three children.

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Georg Ritter Von Trapp

• Georg Ritter Von Trapp was a retired naval
  captain and an aristocrat who had ten children.
  His wife died of scarlet fever. In the sound of
  Music Georg Von Trapp is pictured as a detached,
  cold blooded patriarch who disproves of music,
  but in reality he is a gentle, warm hearted
  parent who enjoyed musical activities with his
  family.

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• The Sound of Music shows that Georg Von Trapp
  has only seven children. The movie also tells
  that Georg Von Trapp was looking for a nanny for
  all of his children when he met Maria. In reality
  however, he was looking for someone to teach one
  of his children who had rheumatic fever. Maria
  did not fall in love with him at first as stated
  in The Sound of Music.

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• Eventually Austria was annexed by the Nazis.
  The Von Trapp family, who abhorred the Nazis
  party, refused to fly their flag on the house.
  Georg Von Trapp refused to rejoin the navy and
  fight under the Nazis, and he refused a request
  to sing at Hitlers birthday party. He soon
  realized that it would not be safe for him and
  his family to stay in Austria. They decided that
  they could not compromise their principles for
  what the Nazis offered, fame and fortune.

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The Escape

• The Von Trapp Family eventually left Austria
  because of the Nazis party. The Von Trapp Family
  did not escape Austria on foot over the Austrian
  mountains to Switzerland however, as stated in
  the movie The Sound of Music. In reality they
  escaped on a train and later boarded a ship to
  America.

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Life in America

• The Von Trapp Family arrived at New York in
  September. When they arrived they had a lot of
  children and little money. To make money they set
  up a music camp and went on musical tours. They
  also became well known for their art, and they
  later opened a ski lodge in Stowe, Vermont.

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Conclusion

• The remaining Von Trapp grandchildren still run
  the ski lodge in Stowe, Vermont.