December 21 is the birthday of Werner von Trapp (1915-2007), Austrian-American singer and the second-oldest son of Georg Ritter von Trapp (1880-1947) and Agathe Whitehead (1891-1922). Werner was a member of the Trapp Family Singers, whose lives were the inspiration for the play and movie The Sound of Music. Werner was portrayed as the character "Kurt".
Born in Zell am See, Austria-Hungary, Werner was named after his paternal uncle, who died during World War I. Werner's six siblings were 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). They, along with his father and stepmother, Maria Augusta von Trapp (1905-1987), 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, Werner sang tenor.
Georg and Maria had three children together: Rosemarie von Trapp (born 1928), 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. The family 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.
Werner became a naturalized United States citizen while serving in the United States Army, initially serving with the 101st Infantry Battalion and later the 10th Mountain division in Italy during World War II. He then became a dairy farmer before eventually retiring in Waitsfield, Vermont.
Werner married Erika Klambauer in 1948 and had six children: Barbara, Martin, Bernhard, Elisabeth, Tobias, and Stefan.
Werner was the grandfather of Sofia, Melanie, Amanda, and August, the latest incarnation of the Trapp Family Singers.
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Born in Zell am See, Austria-Hungary, Werner was named after his paternal uncle, who died during World War I. Werner's six siblings were 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). They, along with his father and stepmother, Maria Augusta von Trapp (1905-1987), 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, Werner sang tenor.
Georg and Maria had three children together: Rosemarie von Trapp (born 1928), 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. The family 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.
Werner became a naturalized United States citizen while serving in the United States Army, initially serving with the 101st Infantry Battalion and later the 10th Mountain division in Italy during World War II. He then became a dairy farmer before eventually retiring in Waitsfield, Vermont.
Werner married Erika Klambauer in 1948 and had six children: Barbara, Martin, Bernhard, Elisabeth, Tobias, and Stefan.
Werner was the grandfather of Sofia, Melanie, Amanda, and August, the latest incarnation of the Trapp Family Singers.
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