Georg was reluctant for the family to perform in public, "but accepted it as God's will that they sing for others," daughter Eleonore said in a Washington Post interview. When the Nazis annexed Austria in , the von Trapps realized that they were on thin ice with a regime they abhorred.
Georg not only refused to fly the Nazi flag on their house, but he also declined a naval command and a request to sing at Hitler's birthday party. They were also becoming aware of the Nazis' anti-religious propaganda and policies, the pervasive fear that those around them could be acting as spies for the Nazis, and the brainwashing of children against their parents.
They weighed staying in Austria and taking advantage of the enticements the Nazis were offering—greater fame as a singing group, a medical doctor's position for Rupert, and a renewed naval career for Georg—against leaving behind everything they knew—their friends, family, estate, and all their possessions.
They decided that they could not compromise their principles and left. Passenger list of the SS Bergensfjord, dated September 27, page 1. The von Trapp family is listed at line 5. Page 2 of the passenger list of the SS Bergensfjord. Traveling with their musical conductor, Rev. Franz Wasner, and secretary, Martha Zochbauer, they went by train to Italy in June, later to London, and by September were on a ship to New York to begin a concert tour in Pennsylvania. Son Johannes was born in January in Philadelphia.
When their six months visitors' visas expired, they went on a short Scandinavian tour and returned to New York in October They were held at Ellis Island for investigation by the Immigration and Naturalization Service, apparently because when asked by an official how long they intended to stay, instead of saying "six months," as specified on their visas, Maria exclaimed, "Oh, I am so glad to be here—I never want to leave again!
This record of aliens held for special inquiry, dated October 7, , notes that the family was to clear up confusion about the von Trapps status. In the early s the family settled in Stowe, Vermont, where they bought a farm. They ran a music camp on the property when they were not on tour. District Court in Burlington, Vermont. Georg apparently never filed to become a citizen; Rupert and Werner were naturalized while serving in the U. Georg died in and was buried in the family cemetery on the property.
Those who had applied for citizenship achieved it in The Trapp Family Lodge which is still operating today opened to guests in While fame and success continued for the Trapp Family Singers, they decided to stop touring in The group consisted mostly of non-family members because many of the von Trapps wanted to pursue other endeavors, and only Maria's iron will had kept the group together for so long.
Later, Maria ran the Trapp Family Lodge for many years. Of the children, Rupert was a medical doctor; Agathe was kindergarten teacher in Maryland; Maria was a missionary in New Guinea for 30 years; Werner was a farmer; Hedwig taught music; Johanna married and eventually returned to live in Austria; Martina married and died in childbirth; Rosmarie and Eleonore both settled in Vermont; and Johannes managed the Trapp Family Lodge.
Maria died in and was buried alongside Georg and Martina. Maria von Trapp s Declaration of Intention to become a U. Maria discovered her religious calling while studying to be a teacher.
After completing school, she joined the convent not as a nun, but as a novitiate that is, she hadn't taken her vows yet. Maria's position was not as governess to all the children, as portrayed in the musical, but specifically as governess and teacher for the Captain's second-oldest daughter, also called Maria, who was bedridden with rheumatic fever. The Captain didn't run a tight domestic ship. In fact, his seven children were as unruly as most. But he did use a whistle to call them — each kid was trained to respond to a certain pitch.
Though the Von Trapp family did have seven children, the show changed all their names and even their genders. As an adult, Rupert, the eldest child, responded to the often-asked question, "Which one are you?
The family didn't escape by hiking to Switzerland which is a five-hour drive away. Rather, they pretended to go on one of their frequent mountain hikes. With only the possessions in their backpacks, they "hiked" all the way to the train station it was at the edge of their estate and took a train to Italy. After Clapton's 4-year-old son accidentally fell out of a window to his death, the musician turned his grief into the heart-wrenching ballad. The writer didn't have to look far to pen the now-classic American novel.
The beloved movie musical about the von Trapp family, starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, almost didn't happen. Here's a look at some of the key players in the British monarchy — and which ones are closest to wearing the crown themselves. The movie starring Sandra Bullock took some liberties while telling the triumphant tale of the football player.
Here's the story about the on-set hookups, arguments and drug use that plagued the cast. By Colin Bertram. By Erin Blakemore. By Justin Pollard. By John Calhoun. By Wendy Mead. In the News. By Sara Kettler.
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