Claimants of Grand Duchess Tatiana Nicholaevna

[I am ready]

... The sentence of theSovyet ending with the words “And so your life has come to and end” was read out by Yurovsky.  The Emperor said “I am ready”. 

... In addition to the seven members of the Imperial family, in this room were murdered the Doctor Botkin, the cook, the valet and the maid.  The cook’s nephew, a boy of 14 was spared.  The bodies were thrown down the shaft of a coal mine. 

Phil Tomaselli

Hi Phil,

Many thanks for posting this document. 

The two items that I have extracted from that document provide significant information. The first offers a completely different understanding as to what Nikolai's final words may have been. To state "I am ready" rather than the more familiar "What?" places his last moments in a new light if the accuracy of the eyewitness's deposition is to be believed on this point.

Furthermore the first extract does not identify Yurovsky as being Nikolai's assassin which is perplexing.

From the second extract - it is clear that the unnamed eyewitness stated that all the I. F. were murdered and that no one left that room alive except the murderers.

Margarita

It is an interesting document, if only because it shows that the British Military Mission were keeping a close eye on the murder investigation.  It would be interesting to know whether this information came from Sokolov or from one of the other investigations.  Knox, though he spoke fluent Russian, having been Military Attache at Petrograd, was naturally inclined to believe what the military told him rather than any civilian, however competent and informed.

I've tried checking the two Bolsheviks mentioned, Safarov & Vainen, but while there's plenty of confirmation that Safarov crossed Germany with Lenin andwas connected to theEkaterinberg Soviet I can find no mention of Vainen in any of the reference books I've checked.  Does anyone know if he existed?

Phil T

It is an interesting document, if only because it shows that the British Military Mission were keeping a close eye on the murder investigation.  It would be interesting to know whether this information came from Sokolov or from one of the other investigations.  Knox, though he spoke fluent Russian, having been Military Attache at Petrograd, was naturally inclined to believe what the military told him rather than any civilian, however competent and informed.

I've tried checking the two Bolsheviks mentioned, Safarov & Vainen, but while there's plenty of confirmation that Safarov crossed Germany with Lenin andwas connected to theEkaterinberg Soviet I can find no mention of Vainen in any of the reference books I've checked.  Does anyone know if he existed?

Phil T

Frankly I am not surprised that the British were keen observers of these particular events.

I will see what I can find out about Vainen and perhaps one of will be successful?

Margarita 

[I am ready]

... The sentence of theSovyet ending with the words “And so your life has come to and end” was read out by Yurovsky.  The Emperor said “I am ready”. 

... In addition to the seven members of the Imperial family, in this room were murdered the Doctor Botkin, the cook, the valet and the maid.  The cook’s nephew, a boy of 14 was spared.  The bodies were thrown down the shaft of a coal mine. 

Phil Tomaselli

Hi Phil,

Many thanks for posting this document. 

The two items that I have extracted from that document provide significant information. The first offers a completely different understanding as to what Nikolai's final words may have been. To state "I am ready" rather than the more familiar "What?" places his last moments in a new light if the accuracy of the eyewitness's deposition is to be believed on this point.

Furthermore the first extract does not identify Yurovsky as being Nikolai's assassin which is perplexing.

From the second extract - it is clear that the unnamed eyewitness stated that all the I. F. were murdered and that no one left that room alive except the murderers.

Margarita

I noticed that Nicholas's last words were different as well. They are not consistent with other accounts, which I find curious.

[I am ready]

... The sentence of theSovyet ending with the words “And so your life has come to and end” was read out by Yurovsky.  The Emperor said “I am ready”. 

Phil Tomaselli

The two items that I have extracted from that document provide significant information. The first offers a completely different understanding as to what Nikolai's final words may have been. To state "I am ready" rather than the more familiar "What?" places his last moments in a new light if the accuracy of the eyewitness's deposition is to be believed on this point.

Furthermore the first extract does not identify Yurovsky as being Nikolai's assassin which is perplexing.

Margarita

I noticed that Nicholas's last words were different as well. They are not consistent with other accounts, which I find curious.

Which goes down to the credibility of this early English communication vs. the alleged latter account given by Yurovsky to Pokrovsky.

I am surprised that no one else has questioned this anomaly.

Margarita

A question then, which do you find more credible? Early English communication or the Yurovsky account. I always have it in my mind, that Yurovsky was also a braggart and was probably proud of his actions. So I figure there was a little embellishment. The interesting thing is, that should it be determined that the English account is more credible, it gives us a different perspective on the last few moments of the life of Nicholas. I have no idea which account is accurate and realize there is no way to know. However, it makes for interesting discussion.
Lexi

Does someone of you have a photo of Michelle Anches? I don't know a lot of respect to this claimant... Would you know how to furnish me a photo and her biography? Thanks...

Does someone of you have a photo of Michelle Anches? I don't know a lot of respect to this claimant... Would you know how to furnish me a photo and her biography? Thanks...

http://romanov.wifeo.com/autres-usurpations.php

You might try google - I got the above link in a couple of seconds. It has a photo of her.

   Michelle Anches...

[Thank you so much, Irina of Russia(Elizie) 4 my banner & avatar!]

she looks like Tatiana in that photo but still she's not her. (",)
thanks for the photo .
That maybe taken on 1920's, isn't it?

   Michelle Anches
This is another photo of Michelle Anches... I am convinced more and more that it resembles indeed very to the granduchess Tatiana Romanova. I know well that is NOT her! But must admit that the similarity is perfect! And then, poor girl, has been killed by someone because they believed that was the true granduchess! by Tatiana Romanov

I'm reporting simply what I read on a book:
In 1948 a baron named Werner von Biel told the reporter George Herald that Tatiana was alive, under the false name of Katharina Lumpesaite and worked as a nurse in a refugee camp in the area of Germany still occupied by the English. In fact, when Herald saw the woman, she was quite similar to the Grand Duchess, but she firmly refused his interwiew saying that her father was a simple peasant from Lituania.
Until here nothing strange, it was not the first time, but then something very curious happened. He showed her a series of documents which should testify of Tatiana's escape, and suddenly the nurse got pale, unable to say one word then shouted more or less: "Leave me in peace! I'm fully satisfied with my job, I have learnt to earn my living. I'm glad now, and I don't want to suffer any longer!"
Then she kept doing her job ignoring all the insinuations about her, which in fact ceased after a while as it was not easy to make a scoop with such a reaction...
Was it true? God only knows. But surely if someone came to me and told me I'm a survivor of an imperial family, I would laugh or think he's bad: this frightened reaction is very strange for one who is totally extraneous to the facts, don't you think?

I'm reporting simply what I read on a book:
In 1948 a baron named Werner von Biel told the reporter George Herald that Tatiana was alive, under the false name of Katharina Lumpesaite and worked as a nurse in a refugee camp in the area of Germany still occupied by the English. In fact, when Herald saw the woman, she was quite similar to the Grand Duchess, but she firmly refused his interwiew saying that her father was a simple peasant from Lituania.
Until here nothing strange, it was not the first time, but then something very curious happened. He showed her a series of documents which should testify of Tatiana's escape, and suddenly the nurse got pale, unable to say one word then shouted more or less: "Leave me in peace! I'm fully satisfied with my job, I have learnt to earn my living. I'm glad now, and I don't want to suffer any longer!"
Then she kept doing her job ignoring all the insinuations about her, which in fact ceased after a while as it was not easy to make a scoop with such a reaction...
Was it true? God only knows. But surely if someone came to me and told me I'm a survivor of an imperial family, I would laugh or think he's bad: this frightened reaction is very strange for one who is totally extraneous to the facts, don't you think?

Not really. Your reaction would come when you were likely in a secure place with no worries about your safety. The woman was in a refugee camp and was trying to keep her job and not arouse attention about her. Based upon what she first said she was clear - she was a refugee who had learned how to work and wanted to be left in peace. This makes perfect sense to me that persistent attention frightened her and she wanted to be left alone. No big mystery here.