AA/FS Photo Comparison - Similarities: What is Wrong With AA Being FS?

[Kurt Steiner]

Indeed, she looks as if he kept changing from time to time, but I found it logical. She was caught in her lie, she couldn't step back and to be proved a liar.

Although I find sad her fate -all the failures are sad-, I have no pity for her: she carved her way. Excuse me if I sound a bit heartless here, but I can't help.

[Kurt Steiner]

I think it is so obvious that Anna Anderson atleast thought she was Anastasia, so why is it so many people are so bitter towards her? From the day she was pulled from the canal as a young woman in 1920 until the day she died in 1984 as an old lady in Virginia, all she wanted was what she thought was her identity. I don't know why she must be ridiculed.

It could be due to the fact that she obliged many people to remember past sadness moments, members of their families gone for good and to reopen old injuries.

And, finally, we all must admit that liars are never loved by no one once they're discovered and proved a fraud.

[Bob_the_builder]

There is nothing wrong with AA being FS. In fact, it makes her MORE interesting in my opinion. How did she fool all of these people who knew Anastasia?

[Bob_the_builder]

The ones you posted look like the same person to me. But here's some that don't like quite like those in my opinion.

[Alixz]

It has nothing at all to do with FS having been a "Polish peasant" -- which, by the way, is overstating the case -- and everything to do with life experiences between the classes at that time being so far apart.  There was no "pop culture" or "world culture" to even things out and homogenize them.  There would have been oceans of difference between a Katchoubian farm-bred country girl and a Grand Duchess of Russia -- from the way each comported herself to the way each would speak even languages held in common to table manners to work ethic -- things would have been very different.  Far too different for someone to stretch a charade out for sixty years.

Anastasia Manahan was NOT Franziska Schanzkowska.  She MAY have been Grand Duchess Anastasia.  If she wasn't Grand Duchess Anastasia, then she was someone to whom aristocratic manners were first nature.

    No- I really cannot agree with the suggestion that she MAY have been GD Anastasia (what with the mDNA and all). It just makes no sense...
    Although your arguements regarding the cultural differences between a young polish girl and a russian Grand duchess are well put, I still don't see that the AA/FS connection is completely unfounded!
    People are capable of learning charm and numerous social niceties -- even emotionally unstable people!

Rskkiya

However, it may be that anyone is capable of learning manners and comportment how then would you describe that Anna Anderson seemed to "unlearn" them?

She lived in squalor.  She treated people with contempt.  She had no manners and never tried to show that she did!

[klava1985]

I knew someone who was raised as a sort of old-money Eastern Establishment princess. She died either at her own hand or was shot in the head by her abusive redneck boyfriend in a remote area of Montana. They lived like pigs in a small cabin without water, drank at the local bar, and drove around with guns in four-wheel-drives. This was not how she was raised or educated and if you'd known her even a few years previously you would never have recognized her. Even her voice changed. Just saying.

[tatiana romanov]

http://pinterest.com/pin/102949541451738151/ This is the original photo of Franziska. 

[TimM]

Judging from the photos of Anastasia and FS that I've seen, they looked nothing alike.   I would never have mistaken one for the other. 

[RomaFan96]

Judging from the photos of Anastasia and FS that I've seen, they looked nothing alike.   I would never have mistaken one for the other. 

I agree, Tim. I've tried to look at pictures of Franziska (sp?) objectively and I just CANNOT see ANY resemblance to Anastasia or any Romanov. Anastasia looked like the Tsarina and Anna Anderson looked nothing like Alix. Yes, people grow up but people's lips don't get noticeably larger as part of the ageing process. Remember, Anastasia was 17 when she died. Whilst she probably hadn't finished her growth cycle her features, at this point, were probably "set" and wouldn't have changed that much by the time she was in her twenties - the age should would have been when this whole survivor story kicked off. The ear test that supposedly confirms Anna as being Anastasia overlooks the fact they shared no other features, either.

[Ally Kumari]

So many books are actually using a photo of Maria Nikolaevna, not Anastasia, for the "ear comparism". How can you take them seriously then?

[RomaFan96]

So many books are actually using a photo of Maria Nikolaevna, not Anastasia, for the "ear comparism". How can you take them seriously then?

I noticed that too!

[Lochlanach]

Judging from the photos of Anastasia and FS that I've seen, they looked nothing alike.   I would never have mistaken one for the other. 

I agree, Tim. I've tried to look at pictures of Franziska (sp?) objectively and I just CANNOT see ANY resemblance to Anastasia or any Romanov. Anastasia looked like the Tsarina and Anna Anderson looked nothing like Alix. Yes, people grow up but people's lips don't get noticeably larger as part of the ageing process. Remember, Anastasia was 17 when she died. Whilst she probably hadn't finished her growth cycle her features, at this point, were probably "set" and wouldn't have changed that much by the time she was in her twenties - the age should would have been when this whole survivor story kicked off. The ear test that supposedly confirms Anna as being Anastasia overlooks the fact they shared no other features, either.

'I would never have mistaken one for the other' ...... neither did anybody else ! Off the top of my head I can't think of any close past associates of Anastasia who recognised her on sight , although maybe someone will correct me. Not in the 1920's , nor in the 1950's. Even AA's most ardent supporters admitted she was 'much changed'.The attempt by supporters to match physical characteristics with Anastasia ,like her eyes and ears , came after the 'recognition' when they sought , unsuccessfully to find facial similarities between AA and Anastasia . This 'recognition' almost always occurred during a verbal exchange (usually tortorous affairs sometimes lasting hours or even days)  when AA 'remembered' a detail from the past which convinced the visitor of her true identity . Put it this way , no past associates, not even those who became her supporters , met her and spluttered out the words ' Grand Duchess - you're alive - its a miracle!' followed by tears and embraces ( you probably know this already). Point this out, and many other things, to AA supporters and you just get the usual  excuses and frustrated tantrums - somewhat  reminiscient of a child that has been permanently deprived of their favourite toy.

[Kalafrana]

Good point.

I too have never seen any resemblance between the two. While allowing for the fact that Anastasia in her later photographs was slightly chubby-faced, and AA emaciated, the noses and lips in particular were completely different.

Ann

[Lochlanach]

Good point.

I too have never seen any resemblance between the two. While allowing for the fact that Anastasia in her later photographs was slightly chubby-faced, and AA emaciated, the noses and lips in particular were completely different.

Ann

Different chin too . AA supporters see similarities that aren't there. I remember showing one of those classic split screen AA/Anastasia comparison photos that you find on the internet to my mother ,who knew nothing of the Romanovs , and asked her - 'do these people look alike , are they the same person ?' Her reply after a swift examination was - 'No , nothing like her , don't be stupid !'.  Good old mum !

[Ally Kumari]

These days I have been send several messages on my Czech blog that Anna Andersson was not Anastasia Nikolaevna..... but Maria Nikolaevna!

Here is a whole blog dedicated to photo comparison of the two (often, ironically, using wrong pictures), if you just scroll down http://tschaikovska.blogspot.cz/