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Austrian political leaders. Tensions rose. Captain von <strong>Trapp</strong><br />
was one of many Austrians who opposed the Nazi takeover.<br />
Most people, however, were afraid to stand up to Hitler and his<br />
brutal police force.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Nazis wanted to win Captain von <strong>Trapp</strong> over to their<br />
side because he was a war hero and torpedo expert. He could<br />
be of great use to them. So, they offered him an important<br />
command in the German navy. <strong>The</strong> oldest <strong>Trapp</strong> son wanted<br />
to be a doctor; the Nazis promised the Captain that he would<br />
get a good job. Hitler even invited the family to sing at his<br />
birthday party.<br />
Hitler’s Secret Police<br />
<strong>The</strong> police force of Nazi Germany was called the<br />
Gestapo (guh SHTAH poh). <strong>The</strong> Gestapo arrested anyone they<br />
suspected of disloyalty to their country. No one was safe from<br />
arrest. <strong>The</strong> Gestapo brutally interrogated and tortured their<br />
victims. <strong>The</strong>ir terror tactics instilled fear throughout Germany<br />
and its conquered territories. One branch of the Gestapo was<br />
responsible for deporting millions of Jews to death camps.<br />
When World War II ended, many Nazi leaders, including those<br />
from the Gestapo, were convicted as war criminals.<br />
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