Habsburg Monarchy

Countess von Breunner,

affectionally known as 'Gromi'

to her descendants

Paternal Grandparents of the von Trapp Children

Photo: Courtesy of von Trapp family

(1526-1804)

Empire, existed

Died in, but not citizen:

Historical Figure - John Whitehead

Photo: Courtesy of von Trapp family​

'Battle of Lissa' on July 20th,1866; the Austrian navy against the Italian fleet.

Empire, existed

After WWI, under First Austrian Republic (existed from 1919-1934):

Born: Klosterneuburg, First Austrian Republic (today Klosterneuburg, Austria)

Baroness* Martina Alice Gobertina von Trapp (1921–1951) / Musical: Gretl

from 1938–1940

Grandfather of the von Trapp children

Captain August Johann Ritter (Knight) von Trapp (1836-1884)

Austro-Hungarian Imperial Naval Captain


Multi-National: Captian August von Trapp was born in the Grand Duchy of Hesse, an independent country and free state of the German Confederation*. He emigrated to the Austrian Empire for a career in the Austrian Imperial Navy, later the Austro-Hungarian Royal War Navy. His ancestors 'Trapp', who originated in Steiermark/Styria and Tyrol (today Austria), had moved to Hesse 200 years earlier during the Counter-Reformation to escape religious persecution for their Lutheran belief.

Music/Art: Accomplished amateur pianist with the ability to recall and play music from ear

Historic Merits: Under Admiral Tegethoff's command, August was an Officer Lieutenant on the screw frigate SMS Schwarzenberg  at the 1866 'Battle of Lissa'; in 1874, he was knighted for saving his crew from a Mediterranean typhoon on the Goèlette SMS Saida.


Naval Service

After 1848 as part of the Austrian Empire's naval improvements, both the Austrian Imperial Naval Academy was moved from Venice to Trieste (today Trieste, Italy) and the new ship arsenal to Pola (today Pula, Croatia). The official language of command and study was changed from Italian to German, phasing out dependence on Italian officers. Then a call went out for young, able-bodied, German-speaking men throughout the German Confederation* to sign up. This new career opportunity offered young men from inland Europe a chance for employment and adventure. 

In the mid-1850s, at age 14, August Trapp was part of a wave of young men from the Duchy of Hesse who enlisted into the Austrian Imperial Navy, based in the Adriatic Sea at Trieste. August's schooling was on wooden sailing ships (frigates, corvettes, and schooners) plying the waters of the Mediterranean Sea in defense of the Empire’s Adriatic coastline. He graduated Cadet 2. Class, moving through the ranks from Cadet 1. Class, Officer Cadet (Linienschiffsfaehnrich), Frigate Lieutenant (Fregattenleutnant), Officer Lieutenant (Linienschiffsleutnant) to Corvette Captain (Korvettenkapitaen) by 1866. From 1864-1866, August was Commandant of the Goèlette SMS Saida, an impressive schooner with state of the art rigging and sails. With her imposing presence, she was considered the pride of the Austrian navy. Under his command, she patrolled the Mediterranean Sea. 

In 1864, the Austrian Imperial Navy's Commander-in-Chief, Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian, became Emperor of Mexico and sailed to South America. With this, the Navy lost its strongest advocate and the planned improvements to its fleet were interrupted. On July 20, 1866, under Admiral William Tegethoff's command of their multi-national navy, a hastily assembled fleet, consisting partly of wooden ships fortified with scrap metal, set off in defense of the island of Lissa. As an Officer Lieutenant of the converted sailing frigate SMS Schwarzenberg, August took part in the four-hour fierce wooden frigate ship-to-ship battle at the 'Battle of Lissa' between the Kingdom of Italy and the Austrian Empire. The Austrians were victorious, and August was awarded the Military Merit Cross II for his bravery. A year later, the navy became the Austro-Hungarian Navy after the formation of the Dual Monarchy of Austria and Hungary. 

In 1874, August was knighted and awarded the hereditary title "Ritter von" (Knight) with a Coat-of-Arms as the result of saving his 73 person-crew during a deadly Mediterranean typhoon while commanding the SMS Saida near the Sicilian coast. The typhoon had destroyed 20 other ships with a heavy death toll. Tragically, ten years later, August died of typhoid fever leaving behind his young family.

from 1867–1918

Before WWI, under the Austro-Hungarian Empire (existed 1867-1918):

Born: Pola, Austro-Hungarian Empire (today Pula, Croatia)
Baron* Rupert Georg Gobertus Ritter von Trapp (1911–1992) / Musical: Friedrich

Baroness* Agathe Johanna Gobertina von Trapp (1913–2010) / Musical: Liesl

Lived in, but not citizens**

Hereditary von Trapp Coat-of-Arms 

Awarded to August Ritter von Trapp 1874

Citizen of, after WWI:

Example of Mediterranean typhoon

Photo: Public Domain

Died in:

Austrian Empire,

(1861–1946)

Italy, existed

from 1815–1848

United Kingdom,

John Whitehead's US Patent for Torpedo Launching Apparatus, 1 of 8 Figures, 1898

Reichsgaue under

Emigrated to:

Lived in, but not citizen:

Born in:

from 1804–1867

Whitehead Torpedo Factory circa 1910

Fiume, Austro-Hungarian Empire (today Rijeka, Croatia)

*Hereditary title awarded to Georg for his WWI naval service

**Austria went through several governmental changes during their lifetime, see the 'von Trapp children' section above for more details. 

Citizens of,

Emigrated to:

First Austrian Republic

Citizen of:

State of Austria, part

Background

United States

Photo: Courtesy of von Trapp family​

Hedwig Emilie Wepler 

1855–1911 (m. 1876)

Born: Obersuhl, Grand Duchy of Hesse, an independent country

and state of the German Confederation (today Obersuhl, Germany)

Talent: Accomplished amateur folk artist and musician
Mother of three: Hedwig 'Hede' Saida von Trapp (m. 1st Robert Lutz, m. 2nd Gustav Wallascheck, m. 3rd Franz Girak), Baron Captain Georg Johannes Ritter (Knight) von Trapp—father of von Trapp children (1st m. Agathe Gobertina Whitehead—mother of seven von Trapp children; 2nd m. Maria Augusta Kutschera—mother of three von Trapp children), and Werner Ritter (Knight) von Trapp (m. Constance 'Connie' O'Mara)

with east Adriatic 

from 1867–1918

of America, exists

Republic of

(1938–1940)

of, between WWI & WWII:

Austro-Hungarian Empire

United States

Died During WWII in:

of Hesse

from 1776–present

First seven von Trapp Children

existed from 1867–1918

Countess Agathe Gobertina von Breunner-Enkevoirth

1859–1945 (m. 1887)

Born: Schloss Grafenegg, Austrian Empire (today Grafenegg, Austria)

Talent: Accomplished amateur pianist, singer and architect/designer 

WWI: During the War World I, family members including the von Trapps, lived with her in Zell am See, Austria

Mother of six: John Jr. Gobertus Whitehead (m. Suzanne Bechet de Balan), Frank Gobertus Whitehead (m. Countess Margarete Braida), Agathe Gobertina Whitehead—mother of von Trapp children (m. Captain Georg von Trapp—father of von Trapp children), Robert Jr. Gobertus Whitehead (m. Anne Morton), Mary Gobertina Whitehead (m. Baron Gioacchino Malfatti) and Joan Gobertina Whitehead


To learn more about Agathe, see the 'Historical Figure' section below.

from 1806–1918

Flag Key

Photo: In book In allen Häfen war Österreich

by Horst F. Meyer & Dieter Winkler


Baron* Captain Georg Johannes Ritter (Knight) von Trapp 

1880–1947 (m. 1911)

Born: Zara, Austro-Hungarian Empire (after WWI: Zara, Kingdom

of Italy; after WWII: Zadar, Yugoslavia; since 1991: Zadar, Croatia)

Talent: Accomplished amateur violinist, guitarist, accordionist, and singer
Career: Submarine Captain in the Austro-Hungarian Imperial Navy for 20 yrs; Highly decorated including the Military Order of Leopold and Maria Theresa; from 1920-1930 founded two maritime companies; in 1935 authored and lectured on his WWI memoir, "To The Last Salute"; later, managed the Trapp Family Singers; in 1947, established Trapp Family Austrian Relief, Inc

Marriages: 1st m. Agathe Gobertina Whitehead had seven children (reference Agathe's profile on right); five years after Agathe's passing, 2nd m. Maria Augusta Kutschera, had three children Baroness Rosmarie von Trapp, Baroness Eleonore von Trapp, and Baron Johannes von Trapp

Empire, existed

Photo: From John Whitehead's US Patent application

Austro-Hungarian

Born in:

from 1804–1867

from 1804–1867

'Austria'

of America

(1801–present)

Austrian Empire

from 1776–present

during & after WWII:

from 1861–1946

(1867–1918)

Austro-Hungarian

Cavaliere* 'Knight' John Whitehead

(today Austria), existed

Grand Duchy

Three more von Trapp children with Georg's second wife Maria Augusta Kutschera: Baroness* Rosmarie von Trapp (1929-2022), Baroness* Eleonore von Trapp (1931-2021) and Baron* Johannes von Trapp (b. 1939). For information on all ten von Trapp children, visit vonTrapp.org.

Photo: ©Georg & Agathe Foundation

of the German Reich 

German-Austria

Lived in & citizens of,

from 1919–1934

from 1804–1867

Countess Agathe Gobertina von Breunner

with Archduke/Erzherzog Franz Ferdinand

​1884 Ottensheim, Austro-Hungarian Empire

Born in:

the German Reich

of Austria, existed

Photo: Courtesy of Whitehead family


Born in:

Grand Duchy

Republic of 

Kingdom of Italy

with east Adriatic Coast
The Kingdom of Italy was created in 1861. In 1918, after WWI, a large part of the east Adriatic coast was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy, from the post Austro-Hungarian Empire lands. After WWII, these coastal areas changed hands once again, this time to newly formed Yugoslavia. After the collapse of communism, these coastal lands were ceded to Croatia and Slovenia in 1991.


von Trapp Italian citizenship

Zadar/Zara, Dalmatia

Georg was born in Zadar, Dalmatia on the east Adriatic coast under the Austro-Hungarian empire. When Dalmatia was annexed to the Kingdom of Italy, after WWI, the family was given Italian citizenship. After WWII, this town was a part of Yugoslavia, and today it is Zara, Croatia. After WWII, the family received their American citizenship; however, Georg passed before the end of his application process.

existed from 1938–1940^

Kingdom of

United States of America

The 1776 Declaration of Independence formed the United States, formally seceding as a colony from Great Britain.

Died in:

State of Austria, part

Austro-Hungarian

Grandfather of the von Trapp children

John Whitehead, Austro-Hungarian Ritter (Knight) (1854-1902)

Engineer, Assisted with Invention of Torpedo


Multi-National: A citizen of Great Britain, but born in Trieste, Austrian Empire (today Trieste, Italy), as a youngster he moved and settled with his family to Fiume, Austro-Hungarian Empire (today Rijeka, Croatia). Later, he became known as "Cavaliere* John Whitehead of Fuime".

Music/Art: Accurate technical engineering draftsman, as well as carved wood for a hobby

Historic Merits: Engineer; assistant to his father, Robert Whitehead, with the invention of the first self-propelled, underwater torpedo; later added improvements granted a United States patent for a torpedo launching apparatus; and Ambassador to Argentina at Fiume.

​​

Engineer

In 1854, John Whitehead was born to British engineer Robert Whitehead and Marie Johnson in Trieste, a port city of the Austrian Empire (today Trieste, Italy). Two years later, Robert moved his family to Fiume, an up and coming free port on the Adriatic Sea, under the Austrian Empire (today Rijeka, Croatia) to take on the Chief Engineer role at the metal foundry, Stabilmento Tecnico di Fiume.


Already at age 4, John could be found on the shop floor. At age 12, with his keen inherited engineering talent, he helped his father, along with their trusted mechanic Annibale Plöch, and day laborer Mr. Gonza, to develop the first prototype of a self-propelled, underwater torpedo. He went on to study at Zürich Hochschule (Zurich Highschool) and graduated in 1878 from the University of Leipzig in the Germany Confederation with a degree in engineering. In 1883, John Whitehead became Consul to the Republic of Argentina at Fiume. In 1887, he was awarded an Imperial Austrian Knighthood of the Franz Joseph Order. That same year he married Countess Agathe Gobertina von Breunner-Enkevoirth. Together they had six children: John Jr., Frank, Agathe, Robert Jr., Mary, and Joan.


His father made him Partner at the family-owned Whitehead Torpedo Factory in Fiume, together with Robert's son-in-law, Corvette Captian Count Georg Hoyos (who had married Alice Whitehead). Under John's direction, as head engineer, together with Tal Jones (the future technical director of their Whitehead Weymouth Torpedo Factory in England) and a young American engineer, Karl Hassenteufel, many experiments (acoustics and gas dynamics) and improvements to the torpedo (Gyroscope and its engine) were effected through the next 20 years. For his brother-in-law, Count Georg Hoyos, John drafted plans for a private sailboat. This 13-ton cutter was built in the Whitehead Torpedo Factory and christened: “Drache” (Dragon) named after the Austrian Imperial Navy ship that Count Georg Hoyos had served on in the 1866 'Battle of Lissa'.


Tragically, his life was cut short after his 2-year valiant battle with cancer; he passed away in Vienna, on April 9, 1902, at the age of 47, leaving behind his young family. His funeral was attended by many dignitaries, friends, family, and the extended Whitehead Torpedo Factory employees; he was buried with honors.

(1806–1918)

See Flag Key below for details

*Grand Duchy of Hesse was part of German Confederation of 67 independent States.

Austria

of the German Reich, 

Federal State of Austria 

(1804–1867)

of Hesse*, existed

Died in:

Historical Figure - Captain August Johann Ritter von Trapp

See flag key at end of page for more details

(1919–1934)

Confederation*,

United States, exists

Lived in:

Empire, 1867–1918

Grand Duchy

from 1919–1934

Kingdom of Italy

Maternal Grandparents of the von Trapp Children

See Flag Key below for details

See Flag Key below  for details

from 1815–1848

First Republic,

(1945–1955)

Kingdom of

During WWI, under the Austro-Hungarian Empire (existed 1867-1918):

Born: Zell am See, Austro-Hungarian Empire (today, Austria)

Baroness* Maria Franziska Gobertina von Trapp (1914–2014) / Musical: Louisa

Baron* Werner Gobertus Ritter von Trapp (1915–2007) / Musical: Kurt

Baroness*Hedwig Adolphine  Gobertina von Trapp(1917–1972) / Musical: Brigitta 

Federal State of 

from 1867–1918

Photo: © Bwag/Commons

existed from 1919–1934

Grandmother of the von Trapp children

Countess Agathe Gobertina von Breunner-Enkevoirth (1859–1945)

Austro-Hungarian Nobility


Multi-National: Her international heritage includes Austrian nobility and historic Croatian and Hungarian noble families of Széchenyi, Esterházy, Erdődy, Batthyány, Rákóczy, Pálffy, Zrínyi/Zrinska, and Frangepán/Frankopan. They include honored freedom fighters, patrons of the arts, Viceroys of Hungary and Croatia, and personal counsels to the Habsburg Monarchy. 

Music/Art: Accomplished amateur pianist, singer, and architect/designer

Historic Merits: Part of the Austro-Hungarian nobility and she played a supporting role at the Whitehead Torpedo Factory as wife to John Whitehead, a Partner in the family-owned business.


Background

Countess Agathe von Breunner-Enkevoirth was born at the family seat, Castle Grafenegg, in the Austrian Empire, the third child and second daughter of Count August von Breunner-Enkevoirth and Countess Agathe Széchenyi. Her childhood was spent in the close embrace of her extended family, in which making music was a favorite past time. Some of these occasions were spent in Zselíz, Hungary (today Želiezovce, Slovakia) at her grandmother's estate, where she played on the piano that the composer Franz Schubert had tutored her grandmother and great-aunt on. In 1887 she married British engineer John Whitehead at the Votiv Church, in Vienna, Austria. They settled in Fiume, on the Austro-Hungarian Empire's Adriatic coastline (today Rijeka, Croatia), where she became instrumental in helping her husband in matters of business correspondence relating to the Whitehead Torpedo Factory. It is here she and John started their family. They had six children: John Jr., Frank, Agathe, Robert Jr, Mary, and Joan. 

In her own right, she was an accomplished musician, amateur watercolorist, architect, and designer. She played an active role in the building and designing of three residences. Her love of music was passed on to her children, carrying on the family tradition of spending hours together making music. After 15 years of marriage, with the premature death of her husband in 1902 to cancer, she became a young widow. As a single parent, she raised their six children between her home in Fiume and her vacation house, 'Erlhof', in Zell am See, Austria. Agathe never remarried and continued to wear the English widow’s Whipple (head covering) for the remainder of her life. With her love, support, and guidance, she saw her children grow up, marry, and start families of their own. 

In 1911, her daughter and namesake, Agathe Whitehead married Captain Georg von Trapp. In November of that year, Agathe became a grandmother to Georg and Agathe's first son Rupert; later she was affectionally known as 'Gromi' to all her grandchildren. In 1914 when Europe was plunged into World War I, their coastal homeland was emptied of civilians into inland Austria for their safety. Agathe offered a safe harbor to her family, including the von Trapps, at her 'Erlhof' home. The family was in the unique and unenviable position of holding different citizenships that placed their men fighting on opposite sides in the war. Agathe's eldest son John Jr. was a Second-Luitenent in the British Royal Flying Corps (Allied side) and her son-in-law Georg von Trapp was an Austro-Hungarian Submarine Captian (Central Powers side). It was a real testament to the closeness and love in her family, that they all were able to support each other and endure the war together, despite this fact. 

Within the next 8 years, tragically, Agathe would lose two of her children too young. During the war years, her 27-year-old son, John, died in an airplane accident in England. A few years after the war, her 31-year-old daughter, Agathe passed way from Scarlett-fever contracted by taking care of her children who had been stricken with the disease. Countess von Breunner's life, lived with dignity, natural charm, inner-strengthen, and an independent spirit, spanned the height of the Habsburg Empire to the last days of World War II. She passed away near Vienna, Austria in 1945, only 11 months before WWII  ended.

Grand Duchy of Hesse

The Grand Duchy of Hesse was an independent country from 1806–1871 and a free member state of the German Confederation from 1815–1848. Hesse lost its independence when it joined the German Empire in 1871, but remained a Duchy.  The Duchy ended in 1918 with the German Revolution and the end of the German monarchy. Today, Hesse is a federal state of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Italy, existed

 *Grand Duchy of Hesse was part of German Confederation of 67 independent States.

© 2015-2022 Stichting Georg & Agathe Foundation. All rights reserved.

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Parents of the von Trapp Children

(1918–1919)

Died in:

Born in:

from 1806–1918

from 1934–1938

Austro-Hungarian

United

Kingdom

Alpine and Danube 

(1934-1938)

(1955-present)

Austrian

(1918–1946)

Empire, existed

existed from 1919–1934

(1776–present)

of Austria

Captain August Johann Ritter (Knight) von Trapp

1836–1884 (m. 1876)

Born: Homberg v.d. Hoehe, Grand Duchy of Hesse, an independent country and state of the German Confederation (today Bad Homburg, Germany)

Talent: Accomplished amateur pianist

Career: At 14, he emigrated from Hesse to the Austrian Empire to join the Austrian Imperial Navy; at age 30, he participated in the 1866 Battle of Lissa (today Vis, Croatia) under Admiral Tegethoff; later he captained the corvette SMS Saida and SMS Schwarzenberg.

Knighted: In 1874, for heroism at sea and awarded family coat-of-arms.


To learn more about August, see the 'Historical Figure' section below.

The von Trapp family's 1938 heroic story of leaving Austria, prior to WWII, inspired the musical and film, The Sound of Music. It is ironic that the most famous 'Austrian' family, due to geopolitics after WWI, carried Italian citizenship not Austrian (for details see the year 1918 under 'Georg & Agathe'). The exception was the eldest, Rupert, who carried Austrian citizenship to attend medical school in Austria prior to WWII and Johanna, the sixth child, who later in her life moved back to Austria.  


Countries
As one can see from the country list below, the family lived through turbulent and tumultuous times. Prior to World War I, they were citizens of the  Austro-Hungarian Empire living on the Adriatic coast where both Georg and Agathe were born. When the Empire collapsed they were given Italian citizenship because the Adriatic coast area was annexed to Italy; due to Georg's Naval career, he was not welcomed to stay in the Adriatic since Italy had opposed Austria in the war, the family moved to inland Austria from their coastal home. While living in Austria, the country went through many shifts in power. For its first year, it was the Republic of German-Austria; then it changed to the First Republic of Austria and remained so for fifteen years; later due to internal power struggles, it reorganized as the Federal State of Austria for four years. In 1938, with the 'Anschluss', it was annexed by the German Reich and became one of its States. During this time the family became endangered as they openly opposed the Nazi regime and had to look for ways to leave the country. Fortunately, their pre-established musical career allowed them to tour Europe and then America. They were first refugees and then ultimately immigrated to the United States of America, where most of their descendants remain.

Confederation*,

of, before WWI:

Castle Grafenegg, Austria

photo taken in 2018

FREE: Updates and history trivia

Lived in & citizens

Historical Figure - Countess Agathe Gobertina von Breunner-Enkevoirth

 *Italian for 'Knight'

after WWI:

Austria

 Austria has existed in many forms from 927–present. From 1526–1804, it was ruled by the Habsburg Monarchy. From 1804–1867, it was known as the Austrian Empire and then the Austro-Hungarian Empire from 1867–1918. Within its territory during this time, the free port of Fiume existed (today Rijeka, Croatia). At the end of WWI, the Austrian monarchy dissolved and a large portion of their territories lost, including their holdings on the Adriatic Coast which were annexed to the Kingdom of Italy. (Italy later lost the coastal areas to Yugoslavia after WWII; and after the collapse of communism, these coastal lands were ceded to Croatia and Slovenia in 1991.) Between 1918 and 1919, the remaining area became part of the Republic of German-Austria. In 1919 the First Austrian Republic was established, which was 1/5th of its original size.  In 1934, internal political strive lead to the formation of the Federal State of Austria. From 1938-1940, Austria was annexed and became a State of the German Reich. From 1940–1942, under the German Reich, the area was the Reichsgaue of the Ostmark and from 1942–1945 it was the Alpine and Danube Reichsgaue. After WWII, it was Allied-occupied Austria for almost 10 years. In 1955, the modern Republic of Austria was established.

Agathe Gobertina Whitehead (1st wife)

1891–1922 (m. 1911)

Born: Fiume, Austro-Hungarian Empire (after WWI: Fiume, Kingdom

of Italy; after WWII: Rijeka, Yugoslavia; since 1991: Rijeka, Croatia)

Talent: Accomplished amateur pianist, violinist, and singer

Mother of seven (the 'von Trapp children' portrayed in the play and film, The Sound of Music ): Baron Rupert Georg Gobertus von Trapp (m. 1st Henriette Lajoie; 2nd Janice Tyre), Baroness Agathe Johanna Gobertina von Trapp, Baroness Maria Franziska Gobertina von Trapp, Baron Werner Gobertus von Trapp (m. Erika Klambauer), Baroness Hedwig Aldophine Gobertina von Trapp, Baroness Johanna Karolina Gobertina von Trapp (m. Ernst Florian Winter),and Baroness Martina Alice Gobertina von Trapp (m. Jean Dupiere)



Photo: ©Georg & Agathe Foundation

1801–present

Photo: ©Georg & Agathe Foundation

A State of German

Austro-Hungarian Empire,

United Kingdom

Britain, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland have been inhabited since prehistoric times. With the 1707 Acts of Union, The Kingdom of Great Britain was created, uniting the Kingdoms of England and Scotland. In 1801, Ireland was added, forming the United Kingdom.

from 1861–1946

First Republic 

from 1867–1918

^From 1940–1942, under the German Reich, 'Austria' was the Reichsgaue of the Ostmark  and from 1942–1945 it was the Alpine and Danube Reichsgaue.

Died in:

United

Photo: ©Georg & Agathe Foundation

Allied-occupied Austria

Austrian Empire,

Republic of Austria 

Empire, existed

Photo: Courtesy of the von Trapp family

Austro-Hungarian

CHAMPION THE ARTS      PROMOTE PEACE      ARCHIVE & EDUCATE


Honoring Baron Captain Georg von Trapp,  Agathe Gobertina Whitehead, their heritage, and children

Empire, existed

from 1801–present

First Republic of Austria**,

(1945–1955)

Kingdom, exists

Citizen of:

Honoring the von Trapp 
​and Whitehead Heritage
​​​​

o

Austria, existed

existed 1918–1919

First Republic of Austria**

**​The exception Rupert, who carried Austrian citizenship to attend medical school in Austria prior to WWII and Johanna, who later in her life moved back to Austria.  

of Hesse*, existed

A State of German

German-Austria,

Allied-occupied Austria

​​Georg & Agathe FOUNDATION

Photo: NOAA, January 16, 1995

Citizen of, before WWI:

from 1867–1918

Lived in:

A State of German

*Hereditary Baron/Baroness title from Georg who was awarded it for his  WWI naval service

exists from

(1955-present)

Austrian

Confederation

Photo: The Sea Battle of Lissa by Carl Frederik Sørensen, 1868

FAMILY TREE: Children / Parents / Grandparents

Photo: Courtesy of von Trapp family

Austro-Hungary,

Republic

John Whitehead, Austro-Hungarian Ritter (Knight)

1854–1902 (m. 1887)

Born: Trieste, Austrian Empire (today Trieste, Italy)

Talent: Engineer, draftsman, and amateur woodcarver

Career: A talented British engineer, already at 12 he assisted his father, Robert Whiteheadwith inventing the self-propelled torpedo; he was educated at the Zurich Hochschule in Switzerland and received a degree in engineering from the University of Leipzig, Germany; later he became a partner of the Whitehead Torpedo Factory, in then Fuime, Astro-Hungary (today Rijeka, Croatia)

Knighted: In 1887, John received the Order of merit Imperial Austrian Knighthood of the Franz Joseph Order.


To learn more about John, see the 'Historical Figure' section below.

After WWI, under the Republic of German-Austria (existed from 1918-1919):

Born: Zell am See, Republic of German-Austria (today Zell am See, Austria)
Baroness
* Johanna Karolina Gobertina von Trapp (1919–1994) / Musical: Marta

(1815–1848)

No longer lived in:**

o