Anna Anderson's claim to be Grand Duchess Anastasia

[lashinka2002]

Here's a good link with lots of pics for whoever has time to browse through.

http://worldroots.com/brigitte/royal/royal20.htm

Here's a link on the romanov family
It talks about Anastasia the family, her childhood, the revolution & Anna Anderson
It states that recent DNA analysis proved that she was not Anastasia.

http://www.royalty.nu/Europe/Russia/Anastasia.html

[hillary_nugent]

I love the Anastasia mystery...about Anna anderson she didn't want to provide any DNA samples too so i always had doubts about her...but it would be so cool if Anastasia or one of her siblings did survive =)

[monamona]

I just watched a documentary on Anastasia's mystery and Anna Anderson. Genetics, Anthropology, Advanced pics comparison were all used to put an end to this Mystery. In the documentary, it was said that Prince Philip of England, Husband of Queen Elizabeth was related to the mother of Anastasia. they took his blood to extract the DNA. Anna Anderson's body was burnt when she died. How they got her DNA?. Anna Anderson had a surgery (can't remember the year they said in the documentary) during which they cut a small piece of her intestins. this piece was preserved in the lab. It was through this piece that they extracted her DNA. Both DNA (Prince Philip's and Anderson's) were compared by Dr Gill. the result was that ANNA Anderson was NOT Anastasia:( . the Two DNA were further compared in Two other labs (military). the same result . In the documentary they talked about a women called Fransesca and they said she was Anna Anderson. They found a cousin of this Fransesca in Germany from whom they took a blood sample. It turned out that his DNA showed that he is related to Fransesca (Anna Anderson).

I was hoping that Anna Anderson was Anastasia. they were people in the documentary who did not believe the results of the test. All the comparison of DNA was done against the DNA of Prince Philip of England...

I am still hoping they find an error in the way they did the test.

[monamona]

"
THE DNA TESTS AFTER ANNA ANDERSON MANAHAN DIED


Many people are convinced the widely-reported DNA testing that was done on tissue and hair that was said to be Anna's proved nothing.

While the DNA testing itself was done by honest professionals, the samples they were given to test were almost certainly rigged. The DNA experts had no way to know that, and they said as much.

The truth is, there's no evidence the tissue and hair they tested actually came from Anna Manahan.

Briefly, here's the case for Anna before the DNA tests

• Anna was thoroughly convinced and convincing that she was Anastasia
• Anna matched Anastasia's physical measurements, including the unique scars
• Anna evidently had the memories Anastasia had
• In the most trying or the least trying of circumstances, Anna was always in character
• The people who knew the Grand Duchess back in Russia - at least those who had nothing to lose if she were proven to be alive - all swore Anna was Anastasia

Such evidence does not die with Anna. " More is in here:
http://www.freewarehof.org/manahans.html

[norwegianne]

As Anastasia's body was one of those found, and identified by DNA, the chances that Anna Anderson's DNA tests and those tests were wrong must not be very big.

I remember that King Olav of Norway commented on the case in a book he was interviewed for in 1977. (He was related to the Romanovs by way of Anastasia's grandmother, who was his great aunt, and thus was Anastasia's second cousin) He said that there were few people in the family who believed Anna Anderson's claims.

[KikkiB]

I remember that in 1997 they had identified all the members of the Romanov family by DNA, and that all the European royals that were related to them helped out by giving DNA samples. And as far as I know DNA testing today is quite a sure thing.

If I'm not wrong the Romanovs were put to rest in St. Petersburg (?) in a ceremony in 1997.

Originally Posted by norwegianne

As Anastasia's body was one of those found, and identified by DNA, the chances that Anna Anderson's DNA tests and those tests were wrong must not be very big.

I remember that King Olav of Norway commented on the case in a book he was interviewed for in 1977. (He was related to the Romanovs by way of Anastasia's grandmother, who was his great aunt, and thus was Anastasia's second cousin) He said that there were few people in the family who believed Anna Anderson's claims.

[tiaraprin]

Originally Posted by monamona

"
THE DNA TESTS AFTER ANNA ANDERSON MANAHAN DIED


Many people are convinced the widely-reported DNA testing that was done on tissue and hair that was said to be Anna's proved nothing.

While the DNA testing itself was done by honest professionals, the samples they were given to test were almost certainly rigged. The DNA experts had no way to know that, and they said as much.

The truth is, there's no evidence the tissue and hair they tested actually came from Anna Manahan.

Briefly, here's the case for Anna before the DNA tests

• Anna was thoroughly convinced and convincing that she was Anastasia
• Anna matched Anastasia's physical measurements, including the unique scars
• Anna evidently had the memories Anastasia had
• In the most trying or the least trying of circumstances, Anna was always in character
• The people who knew the Grand Duchess back in Russia - at least those who had nothing to lose if she were proven to be alive - all swore Anna was Anastasia

Such evidence does not die with Anna. " More is in here:
http://www.freewarehof.org/manahans.html

If you are really interested in this topic, Please read Anastasia by James Blair Lovell. He was appointed official biographer to Anna Anderson Manahan and the book has some surprises in it--including a FIFTH Imperial Princess possibility! Whether any of it is true, I do not know.

[Alicky]

Hmmmm, the story is interesting! Did you hear about the "Uncle Ernie" twist? That makes you wonder too. I don't know who Anna Anderson was, but I am not at all convinced that she was Franziska Schanzkowska. And she did know things that seemed impossible for her to know had she not been Anastasia, but the thought of anyone surviving that night is just too fantastic for me to believe, no matter how much I'd like to. :o

[Alicky]

You're right, we'll never know. Maybe it's more fun that way. If Anna was Anastasia, it's very sad for her. If she wasn't Anastasia, it's still very sad for her. A very sad life.

[BeatrixFan]

I thought that the Helen Hayes speech when she played Empress Marie in 'Anastasia' - the 1956 film with Ingrid Bergman as Anderson- summed it up so well;

"I will not deny that there is a resemblance but there are certain things that cannot be taught - you are not my grand-daughter"

There was another brilliant comment but I'll have to dig out the DVD to find it.

Of course, thats only fiction but the sentiment is the same sentiment I have - lookalikes exist. And so do con-artists. Anyone could have told Anderson the things that convinced some of her testimonials.

[Layla1971]

I once seen a two-part tv movie called (I think) Anastasia, The Mystery of Anna.
It had this one scene where the Tsar's sister, Olga, came to see the woman in question, and said "she isn't who she believes herself to be".
I would think Anastasia's aunt would know her own neice.
But, alot of people think it's Maria that's missing, not Anastasia, so maybe Anna Anderson was a sad woman who pretended for all those years.
Very sad either way.

[BeatrixFan]

I think it was Xenia who went to see Anna Anderson, not Olga but whoever it was, they told the Romanov Family Association that they should take legal action against Anderson and as you rightly say, Olga/Xenia said, "She is not who she believes herself to be"

The other Helen Hayes quote which the Empress is supposed to have said is, "I do not have time to see every young woman with a Royal Obssession".

[Layla1971]

Originally Posted by BeatrixFan

I think it was Xenia who went to see Anna Anderson, not Olga but whoever it was, they told the Romanov Family Association that they should take legal action against Anderson and as you rightly say, Olga/Xenia said, "She is not who she believes herself to be"

The other Helen Hayes quote which the Empress is supposed to have said is, "I do not have time to see every young woman with a Royal Obssession".

You could be right about it being Xenia, I just read a quote that it was Olga, but either way they didn't believe it was her, and I can't believe that they would turn their backs on family, particulary after the murders.

[juliamontague]

It was Olga who met Anna Anderson.

[BeatrixFan]

Thanks Julia - my apologies Layla! I think Xenia was due to meet Anderson but on Olga's word, didn't.

[Jil]

Originally Posted by norwegianne

I remember that King Olav of Norway commented on the case in a book he was interviewed for in 1977. (He was related to the Romanovs by way of Anastasia's grandmother, who was his great aunt, and thus was Anastasia's second cousin) He said that there were few people in the family who believed Anna Anderson's claims.

It is a fact that King Olav's wife, Martha did believe that Anna Anderson was Anastasia. The following is quoted from the book: "The Riddle of Anna Anderson" By Peter Kurth (Page 116):

" Ambassor Zahle (Danish Mininster Plenipotentiary to Berlin) had been approached by Princess Martha of Sweden, a good friend who would one day become Crown Princess of Norway. Martha wondered if Zahle might arrange for her a meeting with the woman who claimed to be the daughter of the Tsar. Zahle explained that "Frau Tschaikovsky" (this is what Anastasia was called at the time) rarely received vistors (and never if she suspected that they had come to test her). "I'll tell you what," he suggested. "She's in the habit of stepping out on the balcony to wave good-bye to me when I leave. Why don't you come along in the car?" It took place exactly as the ambassador had said it would. His audience over, Zahle turned to wave from the courtyard. He had barely raised his arm before he heard a gasp from behind him: "But that isn't Tatiana; it's Anastasia!" Zahle looked around: "Whatever made you think it was supposed to be Tatiana? It is suppose to be Anastasia." "Well it is Anastasia,", said Princess Martha. This episode-well known to the royal families of Europe-had taken place before Anastasia had passed through the worst of her illness in the summer of 1925: that is, before she was visited by the Gilliards and Grand Duchess Olga."

[Jil]

Originally Posted by tiaraprin

If you are really interested in this topic, Please read Anastasia by James Blair Lovell. He was appointed official biographer to Anna Anderson Manahan and the book has some surprises in it--including a FIFTH Imperial Princess possibility! Whether any of it is true, I do not know.

Peter Kurth mentions this "fifth Imperial Princess" in his book titled: "Anastasia: The Riddle of Anna Anderson".
I quote from this book (page 265):

"Anastasia attracted as many crackpots as she did journalists, her illustrious visitor might have been a Dutch housewife who claimed to be the fifth daughter of the Tsar, kidnapped from Tsarskoe Selo in babyhood: or, again, a persistent, dangerous woman who swore she was Nicholas and Alexandra's illegitimate grandchild-born in 1916, somehow being the offspring of Olga Nicolaievna and a Bolshevik soldier-and who threatened to shoot her way inside the barracks(Anastasia was then living in the barracks of Unterlengenhardt in Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany. She moved there in 1949.)if her "Aunt Anastasia" wouldn't open the door."

The book does not mention anymore of this "fifth Princess".

[Jil]

Originally Posted by Layla1971

I once seen a two-part tv movie called (I think) Anastasia, The Mystery of Anna.
It had this one scene where the Tsar's sister, Olga, came to see the woman in question, and said "she isn't who she believes herself to be".

Olga wrote a letter in October of 1925 to Herluf Zahle, who was the Danish Minister Plenipotentiary to Berlin that said:

"Dear Mr. Zahle,
I and my husband want to express to you and your wife our warmest thanks for your hospitality.
I have had very long conversations with my mother and Uncle Waldemar (Prince of Denmark and brother of the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna of Russia) all about our poor friend (Anastasia). I can't tell you how fond I got of her-whoever she is. My feeling is that she is not the one she believes-but one can't say she is not as a fact-as there are still many strange and inexplicable facts not cleared up. How she is after our departure? I have sent her a postcard and shall write from time to time so that she may feel we are near her. Once more let me thank you both.
With best wishes to you, your wife, Britta and her governess, I remain yours most gratefully and affectionately,
Olga"
*Letter quoted from the book: "Annastasia: The Riddle of Anna Anderson" by Peter Kurth (Page 119). Letter written October 31, 1925.

*Peter Kurth says in his notes: "The original is, of course, in Zahle's papers, with a certified copy in BA (Serge Botkin Archive). When asked about this document during her testimony at Toronto, Olga claimed ignorance: "If I wrote that letter, I can no longer say what I had in mind with those words, because so far as I was concerned it was established that the claimant was not Anastasia.""