Many know the story of the Von Trapp Family from the beloved musical and movie, The Sound of Music. The hills are alive with music, a cheerful nun turned governess, and a daring escape over the Alps – it’s a classic tale. But how much of the cinematic portrayal of the von Trapp family aligns with their real lives? As captivating as the movie is, it presents a somewhat romanticized and simplified version of a family whose actual experiences were far more nuanced and compelling. Delving into the real history of the von Trapps reveals a story richer and more intricate than Hollywood could ever capture, documented in part by records held at the National Archives.
Fact vs. Fiction: Unpacking The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music, while inspired by Maria von Trapp’s book, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers, takes significant liberties with the truth. Understanding the deviations helps to appreciate the authentic von Trapp family saga.
Maria’s Arrival and Marriage
In the movie, Maria arrives as a governess to all seven von Trapp children shortly before Austria’s annexation by Nazi Germany and quickly falls in love with Captain Georg von Trapp. The reality is quite different. Maria came to the von Trapp household in 1926, nearly a decade before the Nazi era, as a tutor specifically for Maria, one of Captain von Trapp’s daughters, who was recovering from scarlet fever. Furthermore, Maria and Georg married in 1927, long before the looming Nazi threat.
The romantic portrayal of their marriage in The Sound of Music also diverges from Maria’s own account. According to her autobiography, Maria, her initial affection was for the children, not their father. She agreed to marry Georg out of a sense of duty and under the guidance of the nuns at Nonnberg Abbey, struggling with whether to leave her religious aspirations. As Maria candidly admitted, “I really and truly was not in love. I liked him but didn’t love him. However, I loved the children, so in a way I really married the children…[B]y and by I learned to love him more than I have ever loved before or after.” This honest reflection provides a deeper insight into Maria’s character and the complexities of their relationship.
The Von Trapp Children and Family Dynamics
The movie depicts seven von Trapp children, their names, ages, and even genders altered for dramatic effect. In reality, the von Trapp family consisted of ten children. Moreover, the portrayal of Captain von Trapp as a stern, music-averse patriarch is a stark contrast to his true nature. By all accounts, Georg von Trapp was a warm and loving father who shared a passion for music with his family long before Maria’s arrival. He actively participated in family musical activities and was far from the cold figure depicted in the film’s initial scenes. This fictionalized coldness was likely created to amplify Maria’s positive influence, but it caused considerable distress to the real von Trapp family.
The Dramatic Escape
One of the most memorable scenes in The Sound of Music is the von Trapp family’s daring escape over the Alps to Switzerland, instruments and suitcases in tow, to evade the Nazis. This, however, is entirely a Hollywood invention. The family did leave Austria in 1938, but their departure was far less dramatic and secretive. As daughter Maria revealed in a 2003 interview with Opera News, they simply “left by train, pretending nothing,” telling people they were traveling to America for a singing tour.
Their destination was not Switzerland but Italy. Georg von Trapp, born in Zadar (now Croatia, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire), held Italian citizenship due to Zadar becoming part of Italy after World War I. This Italian citizenship extended to his wife and children, allowing them to travel to Italy without raising suspicion. From Italy, they contacted their American booking agent and arranged passage to the United States.
Max Detweiler vs. Father Wasner
The character of Max Detweiler, the opportunistic music promoter in The Sound of Music, is also fictional. In reality, the von Trapp family‘s musical endeavors were guided by their priest, Reverend Franz Wasner. Father Wasner served as their musical director for over two decades, playing a significant role in shaping their singing career.
Maria’s Temperament
While Julie Andrews portrayed Maria as endlessly sweet and patient, the real Maria von Trapp had a more fiery temperament. She was known to have sudden outbursts of anger, complete with yelling, throwing objects, and door-slamming. However, these fits were typically short-lived, and she would quickly return to her cheerful disposition. While Maria’s temper might have been easily managed by Maria herself, other family members, particularly her husband, sometimes found it challenging to adjust to. Her stepdaughter Maria acknowledged this in a 2003 interview, describing her stepmother’s temper as “a thunderstorm that would pass.” This contrast between the saccharine movie Maria and the real Maria adds another layer of complexity to her personality.
The Real Von Trapps: A Story of Courage and Resilience
To truly understand the von Trapp family, it’s essential to look beyond the movie and delve into their actual history.
Captain Georg von Trapp: War Hero and Family Man
Georg von Trapp (1880-1947) was a distinguished Austrian naval captain. During World War I, he commanded submarines with exceptional bravery, earning him the title of “Ritter” (knight), later elevated to baron, for his wartime heroism. In 1912, he married Agathe Whitehead, granddaughter of Robert Whitehead, the inventor of the torpedo, and they had seven children: Rupert, Agathe, Maria, Werner, Hedwig, Johanna, and Martina.
After Austria lost its seaports following World War I, Georg retired from the navy. Tragedy struck the family in 1922 when Agathe died from scarlet fever. Devastated and unable to remain in their home in Pola (now Pula, Croatia), Georg sold the property and relocated his family to an estate in Salzburg, seeking a fresh start.
Maria Kutschera: From Abbey Novice to Matriarch
Maria Augusta Kutschera (1905-1987) had a challenging childhood. Born in Vienna, she was orphaned young and raised by an abusive relative who instilled in her atheistic and socialist beliefs. A turning point in her life came when, as a student at the State Teachers’ College of Progressive Education in Vienna, she mistakenly attended a Palm Sunday service, thinking it was a Bach concert. The priest’s sermon profoundly moved her, leading to a religious awakening. “Now I had heard from my uncle that all of these Bible stories were inventions and old legends, and that there wasn’t a word of truth in them. But the way this man talked just swept me off my feet. I was completely overwhelmed,” she wrote in her autobiography.
Following her graduation and religious conversion, Maria entered Nonnberg Abbey as a novice. Life in the abbey was difficult for her. While she valued the spiritual discipline, her health suffered from the lack of outdoor activity she was accustomed to. Seeking a tutor for his ill daughter Maria, Captain von Trapp approached the Abbey. Maria was chosen for the role, a decision motivated by both her teaching skills and the hope that fresh air would improve her health. Initially intended to stay for ten months before fully committing to the convent, Maria’s life took an unexpected turn.
Family Singing and Facing Nazi Austria
Maria’s arrival brought new energy to the von Trapp family. She developed close bonds with all the children, introducing them to singing and outdoor adventures. During this period, Georg fell in love with Maria and proposed marriage. Maria, still uncertain about leaving religious life, felt compelled to accept, believing it to be God’s will. Together, Maria and Georg had three more children: Rosmarie, Eleonore, and Johannes, expanding the von Trapp family to ten children.
The Great Depression of the 1930s significantly impacted the family’s finances when their bank failed. To manage, Maria dismissed most of the servants and took in boarders. It was during this time of financial hardship that the family began to consider turning their hobby of singing into a professional career. Despite initial reluctance from Georg, who was protective of his family’s privacy, he eventually agreed. The von Trapp family singers gained recognition, winning first prize at the Salzburg Music Festival in 1936. They toured Europe, performing Renaissance and Baroque music, madrigals, and folk songs, building a successful musical career.
As Nazi influence grew in Austria, the von Trapps found themselves in a precarious position. They were deeply opposed to the Nazi regime and refused to conform. Georg declined to fly the Nazi flag at their home, rejected a naval command, and refused to have his family sing at Hitler’s birthday celebration. Witnessing the Nazi’s anti-religious propaganda, the climate of fear, and the indoctrination of children, the von Trapps made a difficult choice. They weighed the potential benefits of staying—greater fame, career opportunities—against their moral principles. Ultimately, their commitment to their values outweighed material comforts, and they chose to leave Austria.
Immigration and New Beginnings in America
In June 1938, the von Trapp family, along with Father Wasner and their secretary Martha Zochbauer, embarked on their journey out of Austria. Traveling by train to Italy, then to London, they eventually sailed to New York, arriving in September 1939. Their initial plan was a concert tour in Pennsylvania. Johannes, the youngest von Trapp family member, was born in Philadelphia in January 1939, shortly after their arrival.
Upon returning from a short Scandinavian tour in October 1939, they faced a brief detention at Ellis Island. Maria’s enthusiastic declaration that she “never want[ed] to leave again!” upon arrival in the US caused confusion regarding their visa status. However, as documented in The Story of the Trapp Family Singers, they were released after a few days and resumed their musical tours.
In the early 1940s, the von Trapp family found a permanent home in Stowe, Vermont, purchasing a farm and establishing a music camp when they weren’t touring. Maria and several of her stepdaughters applied for U.S. citizenship in 1944. Georg, however, never became a citizen. Their sons, Rupert and Werner, gained citizenship through their service in the U.S. military during World War II, while Rosmarie and Eleonore derived citizenship from their mother, and Johannes, born in the U.S., was a citizen by birthright.
Georg von Trapp passed away in 1947 and was laid to rest in the family cemetery in Vermont. In 1948, Maria and her stepdaughters officially became U.S. citizens. The Trapp Family Lodge, a testament to their enduring legacy, opened its doors in 1950 and continues to welcome guests today. The von Trapp family singers continued to tour until 1955, eventually disbanding as many family members pursued other paths. Maria, however, continued to manage the Trapp Family Lodge for many years. Later in life, Maria, along with Johannes, Rosmarie, and daughter Maria, dedicated herself to missionary work in New Guinea. The von Trapp children pursued diverse paths: medicine, education, farming, and music, each contributing to the rich tapestry of the von Trapp family legacy.
The Von Trapps’ Perspective on The Sound of Music
Despite the immense popularity of The Sound of Music, the von Trapp family saw little of its financial success. Maria had sold the film rights to a German production company, inadvertently relinquishing her rights to future profits. The German films Die Trapp-Familie (1956) and Die Trapp-Familie in Amerika (1958) were successful in their own right, and the American rights were subsequently purchased, leading to the Broadway musical and Hollywood movie. The family’s direct involvement in The Sound of Music was minimal. While producers of the play listened to Maria’s suggestions as a courtesy, none were incorporated into the final production.
Maria expressed mixed feelings about The Sound of Music. She appreciated that the movie generally followed the narrative of The Story of the Trapp Family Singers and felt her own character was reasonably well-represented, although she famously remarked that Mary Martin and Julie Andrews were “too gentle-like girls out of Bryn Mawr.” However, she was critical of the portrayal of her husband, finding it inaccurate and overly softened.
The von Trapp children also had varied reactions. Common criticisms included the movie’s focus on lighter musical genres, the simplification of their complex life story, and, most significantly, the misrepresentation of their father’s personality. Johannes von Trapp, in a 1998 New York Times interview, articulated the family’s sentiment: “it’s not what my family was about…[We were] about good taste, culture, all these wonderful upper-class standards…We’re about environmental sensitivity, artistic sensitivity. ‘Sound of Music’ simplifies everything. I think perhaps reality is at the same time less glamorous but more interesting than the myth.”
Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of the Real Von Trapp Family
The story of the von Trapp family is a testament to the power of family, faith, and resilience in the face of adversity. While The Sound of Music offers a heartwarming and entertaining narrative, the true story of the von Trapps, enriched by historical records and personal accounts, reveals a family of greater depth and complexity. By exploring beyond the cinematic myth, we discover a family who navigated personal loss, financial hardship, and political upheaval with courage, maintaining their musical heritage and unwavering principles. Their journey from Austrian nobility to American immigrants, and their enduring legacy through the Trapp Family Lodge, offers a real-life story that is, in many ways, even more inspiring than the fictionalized version. The von Trapp family’s experiences, as documented in the National Archives and Records Administration, remind us that real lives, with all their imperfections and triumphs, are often more compelling than any story Hollywood can create.
Further Reading
- Von Trapp, Maria Augusta. The Story of the Trapp Family Singers. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1949.
- Von Trapp, Maria Augusta. Maria. Carol Stream, IL: Creation House, 1972.
- Small, Jennifer. “Apparently, Julie Andrews was too tame to do her justice.” The Washington Post, February 26, 1978.
- Witchel, Alex. “As ‘The Sound of Music’ returns to Broadway, the von Trapps recall real lives.” The New York Times, February 1, 1998.
- Opera News 67 (May 2003).
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