Werner von Trapp
Encyclopedia
Werner Ritter von Trapp (21 December 1915 – 11 October 2007) was the second-oldest son of Georg Ritter von Trapp
and Agathe Whitehead. He was a member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the play and movie The Sound of Music
. He was portrayed as the character "Kurt".
and Agathe Whitehead (1891–1922). Werner was named after his paternal uncle, who died during World War I. Along with his six siblings Rupert von Trapp
(1911–1992), Agathe von Trapp
(1913–2010), Maria Franziska
(born 1914), Hedwig von Trapp
(1917–1972), Johanna von Trapp
(1919–1994) and Martina von Trapp
(1921–1951), father, and stepmother, Maria Augusta von Trapp
, Werner comprised the Trapp Family Singers, who inspired the 1959 Broadway musical and the 1965 Academy Award winning Best Picture The Sound of Music
. In the family chorus he sang tenor.
Georg and Maria Augusta had three children together: Rosemarie von Trapp (born 1929), Eleonore von Trapp (born 1931), and Johannes von Trapp
(born 1939).
The Trapps fled Austria after the German annexation of Austria
, fearing reprisals resulting from declining to sing at Hitler's birthday party and Georg von Trapp's refusal to accept a commission in the German Navy. They went to the United States in 1938, settled in Vermont in 1942, and performed throughout the country. Georg Ritter von Trapp died in 1947 and the family eventually ceased performing.
Von Trapp became a naturalized United States citizen
while serving in the United States Army
, serving with the 10th Mountain division in Italy
during World War II. He then became a dairy farmer before eventually retiring in Waitsfield, Vermont
.
He married Erika Klambauer in 1948 and had six children, Barbara, Martin, Bernhard, Elisabeth von Trapp
, Tobias, and Stefan.
He was the grandfather of Sofia, Melanie, Amanda, and Justin
, Stefan's children, the current incarnation of the Trapp Family Singers. He died on October 11, 2007.
Georg Ritter von Trapp
Korvettenkapitän Georg Ludwig Ritter von Trapp , known as Baron von Trapp, was an Austro-Hungarian Navy officer. His exploits at sea during World War I earned him numerous decorations, including the prestigious Military Order of Maria Theresa...
and Agathe Whitehead. He was a member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the play and movie The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music is a musical by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It is based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers...
. He was portrayed as the character "Kurt".
Biography
He was the second-oldest son of Georg Ritter von TrappGeorg Ritter von Trapp
Korvettenkapitän Georg Ludwig Ritter von Trapp , known as Baron von Trapp, was an Austro-Hungarian Navy officer. His exploits at sea during World War I earned him numerous decorations, including the prestigious Military Order of Maria Theresa...
and Agathe Whitehead (1891–1922). Werner was named after his paternal uncle, who died during World War I. Along with his six siblings Rupert von Trapp
Rupert von Trapp
Rupert Georg von Trapp was a member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the play and film The Sound of Music. He was portrayed as the character "Friedrich".-Biography:...
(1911–1992), Agathe von Trapp
Agathe von Trapp
Agathe Johanna Erwina Gobertina von Trapp was the eldest daughter of Georg von Trapp and Agathe Whitehead. She was a member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the play and film The Sound of Music...
(1913–2010), Maria Franziska
Maria F. von Trapp
Maria Agatha Franziska Gobertina von Trapp is the second-oldest daughter of Georg Ludwig von Trapp and Agatha Whitehead von Trapp. She was a member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the musical play The Sound of Music...
(born 1914), Hedwig von Trapp
Hedwig von Trapp
Hedwig Maria Adolphine Gobertina von Trapp was the fifth child of Georg Ludwig von Trapp and his first wife Agathe Whitehead . She was a member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the play and movie The Sound of Music...
(1917–1972), Johanna von Trapp
Johanna von Trapp
Johanna Karolina von Trapp was the sixth child of Georg Ludwig von Trapp and his first wife Agathe Whitehead . She was a member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the play and film The Sound of Music. She was portrayed as the character "Marta".-Early life:Johanna was...
(1919–1994) and Martina von Trapp
Martina von Trapp
Martina von Trapp was a member of the Trapp Family Singers and was the seventh child of Georg Ludwig von Trapp and his first wife, Agathe Whitehead. She was a member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the play and movie The Sound of Music...
(1921–1951), father, and stepmother, Maria Augusta von Trapp
Maria von Trapp
Maria Augusta von Trapp , also known as Baroness Maria von Trapp, was the stepmother and matriarch of the Trapp Family Singers...
, Werner comprised the Trapp Family Singers, who inspired the 1959 Broadway musical and the 1965 Academy Award winning Best Picture The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music (film)
Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music is a 1965 American musical film directed by Robert Wise and starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer. The film is based on the Broadway musical The Sound of Music, with songs written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, and with the musical...
. In the family chorus he sang tenor.
Georg and Maria Augusta had three children together: Rosemarie von Trapp (born 1929), Eleonore von Trapp (born 1931), and Johannes von Trapp
Johannes von Trapp
Johannes von Trapp is a former member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the play and movie The Sound of Music...
(born 1939).
The Trapps fled Austria after the German annexation of Austria
Anschluss
The Anschluss , also known as the ', was the occupation and annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938....
, fearing reprisals resulting from declining to sing at Hitler's birthday party and Georg von Trapp's refusal to accept a commission in the German Navy. They went to the United States in 1938, settled in Vermont in 1942, and performed throughout the country. Georg Ritter von Trapp died in 1947 and the family eventually ceased performing.
Von Trapp became a naturalized United States citizen
United States nationality law
Article I, section 8, clause 4 of the United States Constitution expressly gives the United States Congress the power to establish a uniform rule of naturalization. The Immigration and Naturalization Act sets forth the legal requirements for the acquisition of, and divestiture from, citizenship of...
while serving in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, serving with the 10th Mountain division in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
during World War II. He then became a dairy farmer before eventually retiring in Waitsfield, Vermont
Waitsfield, Vermont
Waitsfield is a town in Washington County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,659 at the 2000 census. It was created by Vermont charter on February 25, 1782...
.
He married Erika Klambauer in 1948 and had six children, Barbara, Martin, Bernhard, Elisabeth von Trapp
Elisabeth von Trapp
-Biography:Elisabeth von Trapp is the granddaughter of Agathe Whitehead and Georg Ritter von Trapp and the daughter of Werner von Trapp. The Trapp Family Singers, which Maria and Georg founded in Austria and brought with them to the United States when they escaped Austria in 1938, included...
, Tobias, and Stefan.
He was the grandfather of Sofia, Melanie, Amanda, and Justin
Von Trapp children
The Von Trapp Children are a musical group made up of Justin, Amanda, Melanie, and Sofia von Trapp, descendants of the Trapp Family Singers. They are the grandchildren of Werner von Trapp and great-grandchildren of Georg Ritter von Trapp and his first wife, Agathe Whitehead, and the...
, Stefan's children, the current incarnation of the Trapp Family Singers. He died on October 11, 2007.
External links
- Listing from Trapp Family Lodge
- The von Trapp Family in Federal Records
- Von Trapp Kids Keep the Tradition