Anna Anderson Research Paper
Anna Anderson, a.k.a. Anna Tchaikovski... a.k.a. Anastasia?
The Mystery In 1922, a suicidal woman that was fished from a canal in Berlin, Germany, made an extraordinary claim. Rescued from the canal in February, 1920, after leaping from a bridge, the woman was dressed like a factory worker and had no identification on her; nor was she able (or, perhaps, willing) to identify herself to her rescuers. Dubbed "Fraulien Umberkant" -- "Miss Unknown" -- by authorities, she was eventually taken to a mental home for observation, where she stayed for two years. One day at the hospital, it was noticed by a fellow inmate that she displayed an unusual resemblance to Grand Duchess Tatiana Romanov, missing since 1918 and presumed assassinated …show more content…
As early as 1927, the doubters believed "Anna Tchaikovski/Anna Anderson" was really a Polish housewife named Franzisca Schanzkowska [or Schanzkovsky] that had been reported missing in Berlin on the same day that Anderson was fished out of the canal. This theory had been forwarded by private detective Martin Knopf, and had some interesting points to it; according to medical records, Schanzkowska also had bone tuberculosis, a history of foot disorders, and had had a birthmark removed from her right shoulder... all of which matched the physical evidence that had earlier been taken as proof by Zahle of Anderson being Anastasia. It was also noted that Schanzkowska's native language, Polish, is closely related to Russian; so she would likely be able to understand a great deal of Russian she heard, but not be able to speak Russian back. In addition, Knopf found a witness that could positively identify Anderson as the missing Schanzkowska; Doris Wingender, daughter of Schanzkowska's landlady in Berlin. But Schanzkowska's brother, Felix, and her two sisters, refused to identify Anderson as their missing sibling, even though Felix had to admit their was a strong resemblance between Anderson and his missing sister... so the controversy continued to …show more content…
9, January 1995, pp. 9-10, and in Vol. 10, February 1995, pg. 218.
Great Mysteries of History, by Kenneth B. Platnick, Harrow Books, 1973. Pg. 74-82.
Great Mysteries and Myths of the Twentieh Century: Who Was Anastasia?, The Learning Channel, 1997. Video: 1/2 hour.
Her Imperial Highness Grand Duchess Anastasia Historical Society, web site created and maintained by the aforementioned Society, address: http://www.concentric.net/~Tsarskoe/
"Moscow Is Almost Certain: Anastasia Died with Tzar's Family", by Michael Specter, New York Times International (newspaper of New York, New York, USA), September 7, 1994, page A6.
Mysteries of the Unexplained, by Reader's Digest Association, Inc, 1982. pg. 125-126.
"Mystery Solved: Genetic tests prove woman not Anastasia", Associated Press release, in Press Democrat (newspaper of Santa Rosa, California, USA), Oct. 6
The Mystery In 1922, a suicidal woman that was fished from a canal in Berlin, Germany, made an extraordinary claim. Rescued from the canal in February, 1920, after leaping from a bridge, the woman was dressed like a factory worker and had no identification on her; nor was she able (or, perhaps, willing) to identify herself to her rescuers. Dubbed "Fraulien Umberkant" -- "Miss Unknown" -- by authorities, she was eventually taken to a mental home for observation, where she stayed for two years. One day at the hospital, it was noticed by a fellow inmate that she displayed an unusual resemblance to Grand Duchess Tatiana Romanov, missing since 1918 and presumed assassinated …show more content…
As early as 1927, the doubters believed "Anna Tchaikovski/Anna Anderson" was really a Polish housewife named Franzisca Schanzkowska [or Schanzkovsky] that had been reported missing in Berlin on the same day that Anderson was fished out of the canal. This theory had been forwarded by private detective Martin Knopf, and had some interesting points to it; according to medical records, Schanzkowska also had bone tuberculosis, a history of foot disorders, and had had a birthmark removed from her right shoulder... all of which matched the physical evidence that had earlier been taken as proof by Zahle of Anderson being Anastasia. It was also noted that Schanzkowska's native language, Polish, is closely related to Russian; so she would likely be able to understand a great deal of Russian she heard, but not be able to speak Russian back. In addition, Knopf found a witness that could positively identify Anderson as the missing Schanzkowska; Doris Wingender, daughter of Schanzkowska's landlady in Berlin. But Schanzkowska's brother, Felix, and her two sisters, refused to identify Anderson as their missing sibling, even though Felix had to admit their was a strong resemblance between Anderson and his missing sister... so the controversy continued to …show more content…
9, January 1995, pp. 9-10, and in Vol. 10, February 1995, pg. 218.
Great Mysteries of History, by Kenneth B. Platnick, Harrow Books, 1973. Pg. 74-82.
Great Mysteries and Myths of the Twentieh Century: Who Was Anastasia?, The Learning Channel, 1997. Video: 1/2 hour.
Her Imperial Highness Grand Duchess Anastasia Historical Society, web site created and maintained by the aforementioned Society, address: http://www.concentric.net/~Tsarskoe/
"Moscow Is Almost Certain: Anastasia Died with Tzar's Family", by Michael Specter, New York Times International (newspaper of New York, New York, USA), September 7, 1994, page A6.
Mysteries of the Unexplained, by Reader's Digest Association, Inc, 1982. pg. 125-126.
"Mystery Solved: Genetic tests prove woman not Anastasia", Associated Press release, in Press Democrat (newspaper of Santa Rosa, California, USA), Oct. 6