Claimants of Grand Duchess Tatiana Nicholaevna

[Colleen]

By the way, the stories and theories about Tatiana having been rescued as well as theories about possible escape by two of the daughters is in Dr. Michael Occleshaw's book "The Romanov Conspiracies".  He also gives some reference about the supposed "rescue route" of the rescued Grand Duchess in one of his earlier books, "Armor Against Fate".

[Colleen]

Here is another statement from Occleshaw's book by Herr Pollman, who had been living in Siberia while it was occupied by the Whites, and Occleshaw included this excerpt in a chapter involving the Kaiser and the German government.  Pollman stated,

"The Czar's family with the exception of the Grand Duchess Tatiana really was murdered.  The only survivors were Miss Buxhoveden and the teachers.  The elderly Dr. Botkin and the Prince Dologorouki were likewise killed.  The inquiry that Kolchak had formed yielded that the corpses were burnt. The place of cremation is well-known.  They had also found there among other things a jaw of the Czar. indistinguishable from gold fillings from the teeth.  The Grand Duchess Elizabeth with the others in Alapaevsk was thrown down a shaft.  The corpse was later buried.  The Grand Duke Michael was also found in safety with Kolchak."

I don't know what to make of that, any of it, since so many rumors and statements were made at the time.  I do think that the grave of "Larissa Fedorovna" should be exhumed to at least have an answer to that question, so at least there will be something of a conclusion.   And that whole thing with Marguerite Lindsay . . . . . .  Strange.  

I have a definate appetite for mysteries!!!  

[Arianwen]

In my opinion the skull of Tatiana is obviously hers - sadly so.

Bob, if you don't mind my asking, which of the skulls reputed to be Tatiana do you believe to be hers? #5 or #6?

I actually did one of my theses at uni on which daughter I believe to be missing, and I certainly found it enlightening. I'd never had much of a chance to research the forensics and the burial site excavations in that much detail. I even got my husband, the 'anti-historian', interested, though mostly because he read biomedical engineering for his pre-med and he's a self-professed science geek.

I don't believe anyone made it out of the cellar alive, though we'll never know for sure until the other two remains are found, if they ever are.

Regards,
Arianwen

[_mysterious]

If she did survive, which isn't likely, she wouldn't be alive now, unless she was 100+ yrs. old, so what is the point in pursuing such things if they only baffle annoy, stump, and over take our lives to no avail?  Not to force my opinions on anyone, or disappoint you in any way.

Why not? What is the point of life anyways? Some people like mysteries and have a healthy curiousity. People like us are't ones to accept that the way things are, are the way things are. People like me want answers, want to think on our own, challenge the mind so to speak! Well, that and it makes a great plot in a book.  

[griffin]

I found Occleshaw's book interesting but I had problems with the number of 2nd hand accounts he heavily based his theory on, and he really seemed to be reaching in a couple places. I still find it interesting that he found several people who were completely convinced that 2 of the daughters survived particularly the accounts from Lady Preston and Major Alley's wife.

[Annie]

By Penny:

It seems that in the early days of this case, the recovered Grand Duchess was named as both Anastasia and Tatiana.
 
The word that she was Tatiana penetrated the upper level of society, and I remember that one of the early visitors (Zena Tolstoy?) came thinking she was Tatiana, and announced -- on seeing the length of the person on the bed -- that she was "too short" to be Tatiana.
 
On another occasion, Princess Martha of Sweden drove to hospital to see the patient.  She had known the Grand Duchesses in childhood, and is in several well-known photographs with them; she was closest in age to Maria and Anastasia.  On arriving at the hospital, she saw the patient strolling outside and exclaimed that this woman was not Tatiana, but was rather most definitely Anastasia.  
 
Princess Martha's escort was surprised, because no-one had thought to clarify to the Princess that it was Anastasia that they were trying to identify, and that no claim had ever been made that she was Tatiana.

[RealAnastasia]

Thank you, Annie. It was just time to start another thread!  

RealAnastasia.

[Georgiy]

I think it was Baroness Buxhoeveden who said she was too short to be Tatiana. Interesting that she didn't say "But just the right height to be Anastasia!" In fact her statement would seem to suggest that she did not recognise AA as a Romanov girl.

[Kransnoeselo]

It was Sophie Bux. who was the one who made the comment about AA's height in relation to Tatiana.  Upon Sophie's arrival AA had at first refused to see Sophie and when pressed she held her bed sheets over her face.  Sophie yanked the sheets off and dragged AA to her feet. Sophie then left having commented to the effect that AA was "too short" to be Tatiana but was the same height of Anastasia, but that she was not her either.

Hope that helps

Tim

[Georgiy]

thanks for that info, Krasnoeselo. I din't realise she'd said AA was the right height for Anastasia. Maybe that comment set it all off. AA sits there in the bed and thinks "Aha! I'll be Anastasia then...."

[Finelly]

...or maybe she never said she was either of the GDs, and people assumed she was Tatiana, and afterwards she said "I never said I was Tatiana", and later, when presented with a list of the GDs, she crossed off three names, leaving AN's name.

Which makes one wonder......if there were rumors all over that AN survived, why did anyone assume she was Tatiana?

We're missing something here..........or not.

[Margarita Markovna]

thanks for that info, Krasnoeselo. I din't realise she'd said AA was the right height for Anastasia. Maybe that comment set it all off. AA sits there in the bed and thinks "Aha! I'll be Anastasia then...."

Haha, good one Georgiy! (Actually I think that maybe that could be what happened- but don't listen to me because I am not as well-read on the subject of AA as many of you posting in this section)

[etonexile]

Really reassuring that AA could seemingly accept the identity of whichever GD she seemed to resemble....

[RealAnastasia]

In fact, she ressembled much more to Tatiana than to Anastasia. Just for that, she was confounded. Siblings could ressamble so much each other when they went older. Yesterday, my mother was watching family photos with cousin Marta and saw a baby girl: "Oh! -pointe her- this my cousin Raquel". "No! -laughed Marta aloud- You are wrong! This is not my sister, but me!"...And my mother would have swored that Marta was Raquel...

RealAnastasia.

[annaanderson]

It will never be known as a 100% if anyone escaped, but facts are that Tatiana is among the nine found in the grave. Dr. William Maples was very convincing and gave reasons WHY he thought it was Alexei and Anastasia missing from the grave.