The Anastasia Conspiracy: A Story of Mystery and Survival
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Follow the intriguing story of Anastasia Nikolaevna, a possible survivor of the Romanov family massacre during the Russian Revolution. Learn about Anna Anderson, who claimed to be the surviving Anastasia, and the debates surrounding her true identity.
The Anastasia Conspiracy: A Story of Mystery and Survival
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Presentation Transcript
Anastasia The Conspiracy
Nicholas II & Czarina Alexandra had 5 children: • Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia • Alexei
Early 1900s: Russians disgusted by war losses, deaths, and food shortages
3.15.1917: Nicholas II forced to give up the throne • Palace stormed by soldiers (Bolshevik supporters) • Nicholas and family placed under house arrest
Imperial family was moved twice • 1st time to remote Siberia • 2nd time to Ekaterinburg
In Ekaterinburg, they were put in The Ipatiev House • Lived here for 78 days • Guards everywhere - even followed them to restroom
7.16.1918: Late at night the family, their doctor, and 3 servants were awakened and told to get dressed
Soldiers stormed into the room and opened fire • Nicholas, Alexandra, Olga, 2 servants, doctor all died instantly
Alexei, wounded, lied on the ground • Shot in the head
Other 3 girls (& servant) had been saved by jewels • They were trying to keep/smuggle the family diamonds • Had sewn the jewels into their clothes - deflected the bullets
Soldiers were unnerved • Didn’t know why bullets bounced off • Shot again • Tatiana, Maria, & other servant were killed • Anastasia still lived
Here is where the mystery begins… • Soldiers report that she crawled to the corner and tucked herself into a ball
Some soldiers say she was bayoneted • Some soldiers say that she survived
Soldiers reported they did all they could to destroy evidence • Poured acid and gasoline on bodies • Set on fire • Mass unmarked grave in woods
Within days rumors start to spread about the events • Rumors about a survivor • Went on for over a year
2.17.1920: A woman jumped off of a bridge in Berlin, Germany • Taken to a mental hospital
She had no identification • She claimed to be Anastasia • Some believed her, some didn’t
Her story: • Explained how she was huddled in the corner & bayoneted, but still survived
Said that the last soldier to leave saw that she was alive and rescued her
He ran away with her to Romania • They got married • He died in a street fight
Introduced to Royal family relatives • Some believe • Some doubt
Arguments against: • Never spoke Russian • Where has she been until now? • Years pass - looks change
Arguments for: • Understood questions in Russian - chose to answer in English, German, French, and Polish • Explained that she would no longer speak the language of those that killed her family
(Arguments for continued) • Must be well-educated (rich) to speak so many languages • Had scars on her body - claimed they were from bayonets & bullets • Had same foot deformity
Early 1990s: graves exhumed • Parts of 9 skeletons found • DNA testing identified: • 1- Older unrelated male • 3- Older unrelated females • 1- Older related male • 1- Older related female • 3 young related females
2 bodies Missing: • 1- young related boy • 1- young related girl