Georg Ritter von Trapp

Georg Ritter von Trapp (April 4, 1880 - May 30, 1947) headed the famous Austrian singing family immortalized in the musical The Sound of Music. His exploits at sea in World War I earned him numerous decorations, including the honor of adding "von" to his name.

Life between the world wars

Despite Ritter von Trapp's valor, Austria was defeated and stripped not only of its Navy, but of its entire sea coast.

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Ritter von Trapp attempted to settle down with his wife and seven children, but in 1922, four years after the war, an epidemic of scarlet fever killed his wife Agathe. He began raising his family alone. When one of his daughters fell ill with the same scarlet fever that had killed Agathe, he hired a novice from a local convent to nurse her. The family had always shared a love of music (they often sang three-part harmony lieder together) and the novice, Maria Kutscher, joined in the children's musical education. She and Georg married in 1927. Maria would bear the Ritter three more children.

Related Topics:
1922 - Scarlet fever - Maria Kutscher - 1927

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When the economy crashed in 1932 (the European side of the Great Depression), the von Trapps lost most of their money. They began singing as a way to raise some money, and received high honors at the Salzburg Music Festival of 1936. Their fame brought them invitations to sing all over Europe. Hitler asked the family to sing at his birthday party, but the von Trapps declined. The Nazis made other offers to the famous naval hero, but even command of a submarine base did not tempt von Trapp.

Related Topics:
1932 - Great Depression - Salzburg Music Festival - 1936 - Hitler

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Unlike many Austrian aristocrats, the von Trapps were horrified by the Anschluss of 1938. Georg made no secret of his feelings; allegedly, the Gestapo ordered the von Trapps to display the Hakenkreuzflagge (swastika flag) for Hitler's visit to Salzburg, but Georg replied, "I can do a better job with one of my Persian carpets."

Related Topics:
Anschluss - 1938 - Gestapo - Swastika - Salzburg - Persian carpet

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