Two different critical perspectives from the Guardian

I reread these, because there were some things that interested me in the second article (The Hills are Still Alive):

-that Christopher Plummer's military suit on the first day looked too fashionably cut for the 1930s (despite the fact that Maria's and the kids' outfits were definitely of that period). Was this to ensure that, despite his handsome face, a boxy thirties suit didn't overwhelm his slender figure? I can see how this more tailored suit keeps up our interest, because he is pretty beastly at the beginning, and the whole story relies on us wanting them to get together! How different would things have been if he just didn't appeal...
     CP did say that he put on too much weight while they were filming because he wasn't actually on set as much as the others, and I have to say it looks like he could have had a larger size of suit! However, the lounge suit he wore in the gazebo, now that's a different story...

-I also thought the point about Georg's retort for Max when he said he had no political convictions, "You must have...etc", may have been apt if Max was Jewish, but had not seen the gravity of what was happening around him and of the impending Anschluss; perhaps he was someone to bury his head in the sand (especially if it suited him to do so), although this would be difficult to believe, given the terrible situation for Jews. In this case, Georg is trying to get him to come to his senses.

-It's always puzzled me why a Professor(Kohler) is running a toyshop, from whence came the puppet theatre (according to Max at the end of the show). A situation which would fit would be if he had been forcibly removed from his university post, as many had, and had to end up running a shop; another comment 'dropped in' and very easily missed, almost skated over, but serves to be digested.

Somehow I had the same feeling that Max might had Jewish heritage as well. Also I am always worried and curious about what happened to him after the Von Trapp's escape. Zeller and his people might not be able to prove that he's involved, but it doesn't mean they would not give him a hard time. So eventually he might have to flee the country too.

A Jewish grandparent would have been enough to send him to the gas chambers. I always assume Max is NOT Jewish because there's no way he'd be that nonchalant.

In a few versions of the stage show I've scene, Max is dragged off stage by the soldiers. Although OTOH also in the stage version, after the Anschuluss he still has a government job and in fact has been promoted. So go figure. After I saw him dragged off stage, I started my headcanon that Georg spirited him off to Shanghai (a place where many refugees fled including Jews). I actually thought Max's vulnerability was that he is gay, the Nazis don't like that either.

that is a great catch about Professor Koher indigoblue

Yes, @augiesannie, a Jewish grandparent in reality would have been a death sentence. Perhaps further back. But I seem to recall reading that there were some Jewish people who tried to 'go along' to save themselves or their families? Maybe I'm wrong.

But I do think the gay angle is another, equally valid theory.

Not sure if you're familiar with this lady (who was from Austria), but this may help you out.  There is a book and a documentary; the latter can be found at the link below:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0mOA1KAZME