February 1939
The winter hiatus for the Hitler Youth was over and Friederich was excited to return to the group. He'd missed his friends in the group and his officer trainer, Lieutenant Brandonberg.
"Welcome back, gentlemen," the Lieutenant greeted, "I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday off, and I hope everyone is eager to get back to work."
Eager heads nodded and all attention fell on Lieutenant Brandonberg who revealed the lesson, "Loyalty to the New Order."
As Lieutenant Brandonberg spoke, Friederich thought about his father and the decisions he'd made over the hiatus. After today's meeting, he decided, he'd turn his father in as the traitor he was.
Bremmehaven Naval Base
Captain von Trapp sat at his desk in his huge office and quietly read over the letter he'd been writing to Maria. He just found out his ship would be deploying again soon and that this would probably be that last letter that he'd get to write her for a while.
Dearest Maria,
I've just received word that my submarine will be deploying again very soon, thus this is the last letter I'll write to you for a long while.
How are you? How are our children? I hope you are all in good health and trying to remain happy and positive. It's sad, I've spent most of my married life with you away from you, communicating only by correspondence and yet from your letters I feel I know all that is going on with the family.
About that, I'm not happy to hear about Liesl's infatuation with the S.S. boy at the telegraph office. She's young and vulnerable and could easily fall prey to the sort of trickery those types are famous for. I am glad however, that Friederich's behavior improved over the holidays. I hope and pray he does not become bewitched again after the hiatus is over.
It seems lately, that while my morale has been boasted, due to continuing letters from my beloved wife, the morale of my men is slipping. We are hearing rumors about troops have begun occupying homes and villas in Austria herself now, and many of my men are Austrian and worried about their wives. Saying this, I ask if the young bride of one of my best men could come to Salzburg and stay with you. She's expecting her first child. It will be nice for you and you can be a help to her, I'm sure.
I'm sorry to say the chances of another leave are very slim indeed. The Reich's expansion plans do not allow for her men to have bi-monthly leaves, although I have tried to arrange one around the baby's due date.
I had a lovely dream last night about our baby. It was a boy, born at sunrise. All the children were singing and praying the rosary. I was there at your side, holding your hand, and Maria seeing the smile on your face and the tiny bundle in your arms, it was such a beautiful sight, one I wish to better in real life. The best part though, was the war was over and we were free. I know that part of the dream won't come true soon, but I can only pray it will come true.
Sadly, I must go and prepare my men for deployment. I've enclosed Frau Schreiner's correspondence information so that you can contact her.
Take care of yourself and remember, never stop writing, my dearest friend,
Till then, I am, as I ever was and forever shall be,
Yours,
Georg
Captain von Trapp sealed the envelope and put it with the rest of his things to be sent out. He'd received orders that his ship would be deployed in one week on another Adriatic reconnaissance mission. This time they'd be gone a few months, at least until Easter. The baby was due in June and Georg prayed he would be able to see his eighth child while it was still a newborn.
A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts; "In!" he called.
"Sir, you've a message from your home," his aid announced.
"Urgent?" the Captain asked taking the letter from his assistant.
"No, Sir. I just know you enjoy letters from Salzburg, Sir," Tome replied.
"Thank you, Tom. Dismissed," the Captain declared as he ripped open the envelope to reveal Maria's small words on the paper.
My Darling Georg,
I dread the day I receive news your ship will be deployed again, for receiving a letter from you every day is second best to having you with me. I missed your steady correspondence while you were at sea. I know I write that in every letter, but it's true. If I know you're reading my letters and replying, I feel encouraged enough to survive another day.
Things are so dark, here, Georg, so very dark and lonely. The town square is literally a sea of red and black and oh, Georg, the Schiller's store was looted yesterday by S.S. men. Gretl was so scared she was awake all night. How can you stomach it? How can you associate yourself with those people everyday? This whole business makes me want to cry, it does make the children cry to see the town once so full of life and energy a pitfall for everything evil. I sometimes wish...I don't even know what I wish anymore, only that our baby would not be born into a world so full of hate.
Speaking of the baby, Georg, and on a lighter note, I felt him this morning. It was so sudden it scared and surprised me, but it was the most miraculous thing in the world, to feel that life moving inside of me...my only wish was that I could have shared that moment with you.
I miss you so much, Georg, so much that sometimes it physically hurts, my heart actually aches when I think that it could be years before I see you again. I'm sorry, but I can't continue writing this. It's just too hard today.
Till then, I am, forever yours,
Maria
Tears stung the Captain's eyes as he read his wife's words on the paper. It was true, the things that were happening in Austria and Germany and the surrounding areas were horrible and dreadful and he wished that he could be there for her and for his children. He only prayed that Maria and the children remembered that in spite of who he was fighting for, it was what he was fighting for that truly mattered.
"Tom!" the Captain called out to his assistant.
"Yes, Sir?" the boy responded, with a sharp salute.
"Assemble the men for briefing in thirty minutes, then, place a person to person call to Salzburg. I want to speak to my wife before we go on exercises. Let me know when the operator rings back," the Captain commanded, "Dismissed, Tom."
"Yes, Sir," Tom responded and turned to do as he was ordered.
Some hours later, during a tense family dinner at the von Trapp villa, Frau Schmidt came to the table to retrieve Maria, "Baroness, long distance phone call for you, Ma'am."
"Long distance?" Maria asked, her heart racing, "From where, Frau Schmidt?"
"Bremmehaven, the operator said," Frau Schmidt informed her.
"Thank you," Maria said, standing up as quickly as her pregnancy would allow, at five months, she was showing quite a bit, and moving to the library.
Once in the library, Maria answered the phone, "This is Baroness von Trapp" Maria said into the receiver, her heart pounding fiercely in her breast.
"Please hold," the voice on the other end said.
Finally, Maria heard a voice on the other end of the line, "Maria?"
"Georg?" Maria asked, she couldn't hear him well and she could not believe it was he on the other end of the line.
"Yes, Darling, I needed to hear your voice," he replied, "I got your letter and..."
"I'm sorry if my letter upset you, it was just...it's been very hard here lately," Maria replied, "How are you? Well, I hope."
"I'm fine," Georg responded, "I just miss you and the children."
"We miss you too," Maria replied, "I love you, you know."
"I know, and I love you too," Georg replied, "Maria..." he paused, "Maria, our crew is heading out again. I don't know how long we'll be gone."
"Be safe, Georg," Maria whispered with tears beginning to fall down her cheeks, "I...we'll all be praying every night and I'll keep writing."
"I hope so, my love. I must go now, but give my best to the children," Georg said, "and take care of yourself."
"I will, my love. I will," she promised, trying to keep the tears at bay until he rung off.
When he finally did, Maria lowered her head to her lap and began to cry like she'd never cried before. She didn't want the children to hear her and worry, but she couldn't hold it in for another second. After what seemed like hours, but was only minutes, Liesl and Louisa came into the library. Both girls rushed to put their arms around their mother, and both feared what she would say when they asked her what was wrong.
Finally Liesl got up the nerve, "Mother, was it about father?"
Maria shook her head, "It was your father," she managed to get out, "he's going back on another...their ship is..." Maria couldn't finish the words, "I sometimes wish he had just run away, even if he had to leave us here," she sobbed, embarrassed that her daughters had to see her like this.
"Father, never would have done that," Liesl told her, rocking her hysterical mother.
"He wanted to," Maria replied, "but because I couldn't travel, he wouldn't go. If something happens to him..." Maria trailed off.
Friederich stood in the doorway the whole time listening to his "mother" sob for her traitor. If something happened to him she would blame herself, he knew that, but whatever was going to happen on that ship, it would be his father's doing for betraying his country. Friederich had no sympathy for either of them.
Meanwhile, at Bremmehaven Navel Base, Admiral von Schriver was listening to disturbing news from Lieutenant Brandonberg, who had telephoned him long distance with Friederich's reports. Von Schriver hated to admit it, but he knew that it was true. Captain von Trapp was not a patriot, he was a father, and he was fighting to keep his family safe.
"What should we do, Sir?" Lieutenant Everstein asked the Admiral.
"Well, you are going to begin using the von Trapp villa as a base for the Salzburg second unit, while I...unfortunately, will have to question Captain von Trapp."
The winter hiatus for the Hitler Youth was over and Friederich was excited to return to the group. He'd missed his friends in the group and his officer trainer, Lieutenant Brandonberg.
"Welcome back, gentlemen," the Lieutenant greeted, "I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday off, and I hope everyone is eager to get back to work."
Eager heads nodded and all attention fell on Lieutenant Brandonberg who revealed the lesson, "Loyalty to the New Order."
As Lieutenant Brandonberg spoke, Friederich thought about his father and the decisions he'd made over the hiatus. After today's meeting, he decided, he'd turn his father in as the traitor he was.
Bremmehaven Naval Base
Captain von Trapp sat at his desk in his huge office and quietly read over the letter he'd been writing to Maria. He just found out his ship would be deploying again soon and that this would probably be that last letter that he'd get to write her for a while.
Dearest Maria,
I've just received word that my submarine will be deploying again very soon, thus this is the last letter I'll write to you for a long while.
How are you? How are our children? I hope you are all in good health and trying to remain happy and positive. It's sad, I've spent most of my married life with you away from you, communicating only by correspondence and yet from your letters I feel I know all that is going on with the family.
About that, I'm not happy to hear about Liesl's infatuation with the S.S. boy at the telegraph office. She's young and vulnerable and could easily fall prey to the sort of trickery those types are famous for. I am glad however, that Friederich's behavior improved over the holidays. I hope and pray he does not become bewitched again after the hiatus is over.
It seems lately, that while my morale has been boasted, due to continuing letters from my beloved wife, the morale of my men is slipping. We are hearing rumors about troops have begun occupying homes and villas in Austria herself now, and many of my men are Austrian and worried about their wives. Saying this, I ask if the young bride of one of my best men could come to Salzburg and stay with you. She's expecting her first child. It will be nice for you and you can be a help to her, I'm sure.
I'm sorry to say the chances of another leave are very slim indeed. The Reich's expansion plans do not allow for her men to have bi-monthly leaves, although I have tried to arrange one around the baby's due date.
I had a lovely dream last night about our baby. It was a boy, born at sunrise. All the children were singing and praying the rosary. I was there at your side, holding your hand, and Maria seeing the smile on your face and the tiny bundle in your arms, it was such a beautiful sight, one I wish to better in real life. The best part though, was the war was over and we were free. I know that part of the dream won't come true soon, but I can only pray it will come true.
Sadly, I must go and prepare my men for deployment. I've enclosed Frau Schreiner's correspondence information so that you can contact her.
Take care of yourself and remember, never stop writing, my dearest friend,
Till then, I am, as I ever was and forever shall be,
Yours,
Georg
Captain von Trapp sealed the envelope and put it with the rest of his things to be sent out. He'd received orders that his ship would be deployed in one week on another Adriatic reconnaissance mission. This time they'd be gone a few months, at least until Easter. The baby was due in June and Georg prayed he would be able to see his eighth child while it was still a newborn.
A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts; "In!" he called.
"Sir, you've a message from your home," his aid announced.
"Urgent?" the Captain asked taking the letter from his assistant.
"No, Sir. I just know you enjoy letters from Salzburg, Sir," Tome replied.
"Thank you, Tom. Dismissed," the Captain declared as he ripped open the envelope to reveal Maria's small words on the paper.
My Darling Georg,
I dread the day I receive news your ship will be deployed again, for receiving a letter from you every day is second best to having you with me. I missed your steady correspondence while you were at sea. I know I write that in every letter, but it's true. If I know you're reading my letters and replying, I feel encouraged enough to survive another day.
Things are so dark, here, Georg, so very dark and lonely. The town square is literally a sea of red and black and oh, Georg, the Schiller's store was looted yesterday by S.S. men. Gretl was so scared she was awake all night. How can you stomach it? How can you associate yourself with those people everyday? This whole business makes me want to cry, it does make the children cry to see the town once so full of life and energy a pitfall for everything evil. I sometimes wish...I don't even know what I wish anymore, only that our baby would not be born into a world so full of hate.
Speaking of the baby, Georg, and on a lighter note, I felt him this morning. It was so sudden it scared and surprised me, but it was the most miraculous thing in the world, to feel that life moving inside of me...my only wish was that I could have shared that moment with you.
I miss you so much, Georg, so much that sometimes it physically hurts, my heart actually aches when I think that it could be years before I see you again. I'm sorry, but I can't continue writing this. It's just too hard today.
Till then, I am, forever yours,
Maria
Tears stung the Captain's eyes as he read his wife's words on the paper. It was true, the things that were happening in Austria and Germany and the surrounding areas were horrible and dreadful and he wished that he could be there for her and for his children. He only prayed that Maria and the children remembered that in spite of who he was fighting for, it was what he was fighting for that truly mattered.
"Tom!" the Captain called out to his assistant.
"Yes, Sir?" the boy responded, with a sharp salute.
"Assemble the men for briefing in thirty minutes, then, place a person to person call to Salzburg. I want to speak to my wife before we go on exercises. Let me know when the operator rings back," the Captain commanded, "Dismissed, Tom."
"Yes, Sir," Tom responded and turned to do as he was ordered.
Some hours later, during a tense family dinner at the von Trapp villa, Frau Schmidt came to the table to retrieve Maria, "Baroness, long distance phone call for you, Ma'am."
"Long distance?" Maria asked, her heart racing, "From where, Frau Schmidt?"
"Bremmehaven, the operator said," Frau Schmidt informed her.
"Thank you," Maria said, standing up as quickly as her pregnancy would allow, at five months, she was showing quite a bit, and moving to the library.
Once in the library, Maria answered the phone, "This is Baroness von Trapp" Maria said into the receiver, her heart pounding fiercely in her breast.
"Please hold," the voice on the other end said.
Finally, Maria heard a voice on the other end of the line, "Maria?"
"Georg?" Maria asked, she couldn't hear him well and she could not believe it was he on the other end of the line.
"Yes, Darling, I needed to hear your voice," he replied, "I got your letter and..."
"I'm sorry if my letter upset you, it was just...it's been very hard here lately," Maria replied, "How are you? Well, I hope."
"I'm fine," Georg responded, "I just miss you and the children."
"We miss you too," Maria replied, "I love you, you know."
"I know, and I love you too," Georg replied, "Maria..." he paused, "Maria, our crew is heading out again. I don't know how long we'll be gone."
"Be safe, Georg," Maria whispered with tears beginning to fall down her cheeks, "I...we'll all be praying every night and I'll keep writing."
"I hope so, my love. I must go now, but give my best to the children," Georg said, "and take care of yourself."
"I will, my love. I will," she promised, trying to keep the tears at bay until he rung off.
When he finally did, Maria lowered her head to her lap and began to cry like she'd never cried before. She didn't want the children to hear her and worry, but she couldn't hold it in for another second. After what seemed like hours, but was only minutes, Liesl and Louisa came into the library. Both girls rushed to put their arms around their mother, and both feared what she would say when they asked her what was wrong.
Finally Liesl got up the nerve, "Mother, was it about father?"
Maria shook her head, "It was your father," she managed to get out, "he's going back on another...their ship is..." Maria couldn't finish the words, "I sometimes wish he had just run away, even if he had to leave us here," she sobbed, embarrassed that her daughters had to see her like this.
"Father, never would have done that," Liesl told her, rocking her hysterical mother.
"He wanted to," Maria replied, "but because I couldn't travel, he wouldn't go. If something happens to him..." Maria trailed off.
Friederich stood in the doorway the whole time listening to his "mother" sob for her traitor. If something happened to him she would blame herself, he knew that, but whatever was going to happen on that ship, it would be his father's doing for betraying his country. Friederich had no sympathy for either of them.
Meanwhile, at Bremmehaven Navel Base, Admiral von Schriver was listening to disturbing news from Lieutenant Brandonberg, who had telephoned him long distance with Friederich's reports. Von Schriver hated to admit it, but he knew that it was true. Captain von Trapp was not a patriot, he was a father, and he was fighting to keep his family safe.
"What should we do, Sir?" Lieutenant Everstein asked the Admiral.
"Well, you are going to begin using the von Trapp villa as a base for the Salzburg second unit, while I...unfortunately, will have to question Captain von Trapp."
