<P> According to Maria von Trapp 's memoirs , Georg von Trapp found himself in a vexing situation after the German takeover of Austria in 1938 . He was offered a commission in the German Navy , a tempting proposition for a Captain without a navy , but decided to decline the offer , being opposed to Nazi ideology . Knowing that he could not decline the offer without the threat of arrest , possibly for his entire family , von Trapp decided to leave Austria . The family took a train to Italy , then sailed to the United States for their first concert tour , then in 1939 went back to Europe to tour Scandinavia , hoping to continue their concerts in cities beyond the reach of the Third Reich . During this time , they went back to Salzburg for a few months before returning to Sweden to finish the tour . From there , they traveled to Norway to begin the trip back to the United States in September 1939 . </P>
<P> According to Maria von Trapp 's memoirs , Georg von Trapp found himself in a vexing situation after the German takeover of Austria in 1938 . He was offered a commission in the German Navy , a tempting proposition for a Captain without a navy , but decided to decline the offer , being opposed to Nazi ideology . Knowing that he could not decline the offer without the threat of arrest , possibly for his entire family , von Trapp decided to leave Austria . The family took a train to Italy , then sailed to the United States for their first concert tour , then in 1939 went back to Europe to tour Scandinavia , hoping to continue their concerts in cities beyond the reach of the Third Reich . During this time , they went back to Salzburg for a few months before returning to Sweden to finish the tour . From there , they traveled to Norway to begin the trip back to the United States in September 1939 . </P>
when did the von trapp family leave austria
when did the von trapp family leave austria
1938
1938