The 1965 film told the story of the musical von Trapp family that fled the Nazis in Austria, but there were a few key points that Hollywood either changed or left out entirely.
George Konig / Keystone Features / Getty ImagesThe genuine - life von Trapp category in London circa 1950 .
Most people have seenThe Sound of Music , the darling 1965 film that evidence the story of a loving governess , a gruff widower , and their musical family during the rise of the Nazis . But though the plastic film is fiction , it ’s based on the real - sprightliness account of the von Trapp mob .
Just like in the movie , the von Trapp family was made up of a widower , his expectant brood , and a would - be nun name Maria . Like in the movie , the family began to sing together and finally settle to depart their native Austria for the United States as Adolf Hitler acquire big businessman in Europe .
George Konig/Keystone Features/Getty ImagesThe real-life von Trapp family in London circa 1950.
But the real von Trapp family has insisted that they ’re different from their fictional twin . And though the motion-picture show is establish on their life , the true story ofThe Sound of Musicdiffers from history in numerous ways .
How Maria Kutschera Joined The Real-Life Von Trapp Family
Like inThe strait of Music , the story of the von Trapp home set out with a woman named Maria , whose literal name was Maria Augusta Kutschera . Born in 1905 , the veridical - liveliness Maria acquire up in a secular family but became becharm with religion after unexpectedly attending a Palm Sunday service .
accord to theNational Archives , Maria provide the State Teachers ’ College of Progressive Education in Vienna and inscribe the Benedictine Abbey of Nonnberg in Salzburg in hope of becoming a nun . But there , like inThe audio of Music , Maria was a “ problem ” that the nuns struggle to “ work out . ”
Bettmann / Getty ImagesThe real Maria von Trapp .
Bettmann/Getty ImagesThe real Maria von Trapp.
“ I was horrid , the worst you could imagine , ” Maria call in in 1980 . Not only did a lack of fresh air and exercise make her mad , but Maria call back breaking china , speaking when she was n’t supposed to , running through the court , sliding down banisters , sing Gregorian chants , and climb on the convent roof .
When a World War I Heron name Baron Georg von Trapp approached the nuns in hopes of finding a tutor for his sick girl , also named Maria , the sister fleetly volunteer their local troublemaker .
“ The nuns unanimously chose me , ” Maria said .
Public DomainGeorg von Trapp with his first, wife, Agathe Whitehead, circa 1910.
Like inThe Sound of Music , Georg was a widowman with seven tiddler . But his house has refuse his depicting in the plastic film as gruff and uncaring . In literal life , he was strong - hearted and encourage his baby ’s telling .
Public DomainGeorg von Trapp with his first , married woman , Agathe Whitehead , circa 1910 .
Likewise , the actual life-time Maria was n’t as even - tempered as the character in the pic . fit in to the National Archives , the younger Maria remembered her as having “ a terrible temper … from one moment to the next , you did n’t hump what reach her . We were not used to this . But we took it like a electrical storm that would pass , because the next minute she could be very gracious . ”
Bettmann/Getty ImagesThe von Trapp family singing at a hospital in 1938.
Like in the motion-picture show , Maria and Georg fell in love and got espouse . But Maria has say that her dearest for Georg , who was 25 years her fourth-year , had more to do with his children than with him . She explained that she agreed to espouse him because he asked her to be a “ second female parent ” to his children .
“ God must have made him word it that means , ” she said , “ because if he had only asked me to marry him I might not have said yes . ” She added : “ I really and truly was not in lovemaking … I loved the children , so in a way I really married the children … [ B]y and by I learned to hump him more than I have ever make out before or after . ”
Unlike in the moving-picture show , they married in 1927 , about a decade before the Nazis annex Austria . The von Trapp home also was n’t as wealthy as they seemed inThe phone of Music , as Georg lost most of his wealthiness during the orbicular depression in the thirties . And though his seven children are portrayed in the moving picture — with dissimilar names and often different genders — he and Maria actually had three extra children of their own .
Bettmann/Getty ImagesA street scene in Vienna shortly after the German annexation. The sign in the window reads: “Jews are not wanted.”
But the film does accurately seize the kinsfolk ’s reaction to the rise of the Nazis .
The Von Trapp Family And The Rise Of Adolf Hitler
Bettmann / Getty ImagesThe von Trapp family tattle at a infirmary in 1938 .
The von Trapp family learn that Nazi Germany had annex Austria in March 1938 around the same time that they celebrated one of the children ’s birthdays .
By then , the family was a vocalizing sense impression . The National Archives cover that the von Trapps , also have intercourse as the Trapp Family Singers , had become famous for perform all over Europe and had even bring home the bacon first position in the Salzburg Music Festival in 1936 ( just as they do inThe phone of Music ) . But the rise of the Nazis changed everything .
John Greim/LightRocket via Getty ImagesThe Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont.
One of the child , Lorli , was train before long after the German coup d’etat of Austria .
Her teacher told Maria that she had refused to lift her hand in the Heil Hitler military greeting and resist to sing the German internal anthem , announcing to the class that Georg had said “ he ’d put primer glass in his tea or stop his life on a droppings heap before he would ever sing that song . ” The teacher threatened to account them if it come about again .
Despite the risk , the family resisted the creeping influence of the Nazis . Georg refused to come out of retreat to overtop a submarine and the household turn down an invitation to sing at Adolf Hitler ’s natal day . Georg forgather the small fry to hash out leaving Austria , mention that they would give up their “ material goods ” but retain their “ faith and honour . ”
Bettmann / Getty ImagesA street conniption in Vienna briefly after the German annexation . The sign in the window reads : “ Jews are not wanted . ”
“ Then , let ’s get out of here soon , ” Georg allegedly suppose . “ You ca n’t say no three meter to Hitler . ”
InThe Sound of Music , the family mounts a daring escape , carrying their suitcases and tool across the Alps . The realism — though they leave one day before Austria closed its borders — was much less dramatic .
“ We did tell mass that we were going to America to sing , ” the young Maria said , according to the National Archives . “ And we did not climb over mountains with all our laborious suitcases and instrumental role . We leave by gear , hazard nothing . ”
Her stepmother put things more compactly , noting in an audience reported byBiographythat crossing the Alps would have led them straight into Nazi Germany . “ Do n’t they cognize geographics in Hollywood ? ” she ask in 1967 . “ Salzburg does not border on Switzerland ! ”
The family made it safely to the United States , where Maria soon decided to share their story with the reality .
The True Story OfThe Sound Of MusicFamily After World War II
John Greim / LightRocket via Getty ImagesThe Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe , Vermont .
Maria finally sold the rights of her book to German producer , who used her tale inDie Trapp - Familie(1956 ) , andDie Trapp - Familie in Amerika(1958 ) . in short after the German films were released , The Sound of Musicpremiered as a bid , then was adapted as a movie , with Julie Andrews as Maria .
The von Trapp fellowship never made much money from the motion-picture show and focus most of their attention on running the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe . Indeed , the family ingest some government issue with the movie ’s creative liberty , including the depiction of Georg as a harsh and inhuman father .
“ Sound of Musicsimplifies everything , ” Johannes von Trapp toldThe New York Timesin 1998 . “ I think perhaps reality is at the same time less glamourous but more interesting than the myth . ”
But his stepmother , Maria , came to understand why their story had such an impact . She saw it as a tale of one family following the will of God and stamp down a crisis together .
“ I always tell my nestling , ‘ discover the will of God and do it , ’ even in the trivial things , ” she said . “ Our life consist of living minute by minute . Someday a big hour will total and you must be prepared . ”
After reading about the true account of the von Trapp category , look through thesephotos of life in Nazi Germany . Or , find the scary narration of the Nazi’sHitler Youth .
