Georg Was a Proud Navy Captain
Born into the Austrian aristocracy, Georg von Trapp grew up on nationalist values and joined the navy as soon as he could. He worked diligently, obeying all orders, and rose through the ranks to become a submarine captain. When the World War I engulfed Europe in 1914, he rushed to the Austrian sea coast to clear it from enemy ships.
g Ritter von Trapp, Agathe Whitehead. IMG Photo by PA Images/Getty Images
He did his job well, and by the end of the war, he was given the highest military honors and was considered a naval hero. But no honors could soothe the devastating feeling he felt as his country was forced to surrender at the end of 1918. Austria was crushed.