VON TRAPP
(Info on Von Trapp who was a hero of WW1, Had 7 children wife died, needed someone to help with his children, got a Novice Nun from the church, they fell in love, married had 3 children. When Nazis took over Capt was told he had to join the Nazis, rather than do this they fled to Italy the to the US where they lived in Vermont). In their home Hitler visited, but Himmler took it as his home)
Captain Georg Ritter von Trapp
Georg 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 elevation to the Austrian nobility.
Georg von Trapp was born in Zadar, Croatia (then part of Austria-Hungary) and in 1894 he followed his father's career into the Austro-Hungarian Navy, entering the naval academy at Fiume. He graduated four years later and completed two years of follow-on training voyages including a trip to Australia. In 1900 he was assigned to the armored cruiser Kaiserin und Königin Maria Theresia and was decorated for his performance during the Boxer Rebellion. In 1902, he passed the officer's examination.
Maria had longed to be a nun since she was a young girl, yet when she became old enough discovered that it wasn't at all what she thought, when she is unable to contain her zest for life. Hence, Mother Superior sends her off in answer to a letter from a retired naval captain for a governess for his seven children, as a challenge. After taking the position as nanny, Maria finds she is the latest in a long line of governesses. Not put off, she teaches the children to sing and that becomes their bonding force. Marie shows the Von Trapp children the miracle of the Sound of Music, and teaches them how to sing.
Captain Von Trapp was widowed several years before and was left to care for his seven 'rowdy' children in strict military fashion. Von Trapp, runs his home near Salzburg like the ship he once commanded. The children serve only to remind him of his deceased wife and his great loss. The Von Trapp home is thus turned into a gloomy place of order and discipline. The children have run off countless governesses by playing tricks on them to gain their father's attention, however with "fraulein" (young lady) Maria they take to her kindness.
Maria soon learns that all these children need is a little love to change their attitudes. As Maria teaches the children to sing, and through her, laughter is brought back into the hearts and home of the Von Trapp family. Unknowingly, Maria and Captain Von Trapp are falling helplessly in love, except there are two problems, the Captain is engaged, and Maria is a postulant!
The family romps through the hills inspire all to sing and to find joy in the smallest things - like raindrops on window panes. With a renewed zest for life, the baron hosts a party to introduce his new fiance.
Finally, when the bold Baroness tells Maria that the Captain loves her she panics & returns to the Abby, where the Rev. Mother tells her she has to look for her life, & so she returns to the home of the Captain & Children by which time Georg Von Trapp decides he can't marry the Baroness if he's in love with Maria, & calls off his engagement & tells Maria. Captain von Trapp's heart opens up to feelings he had forgotten.
The happy ending comes when Maria & Georg marrry, but have to leave Austria as he has to take a position in the Navy round the time the Nazis were in Power, The Sound of Music is based on a true story surrounding The Von Trapp's. This is one of the best films of all time & will always be a classic for all the family.
