Romanov Claimants – Eleonora Kruger
A Brief Introduction to the Woman Some Believe was Anastasia
May 12, 2009
Five years after the Romanov family were executed at Ipatiev House in Ekaterinburg, Russia, small groups of Russians settled in the Bulgarian village of Gabarevo. One of them stood out from the rest. Initially introducing herself as Countess Eleonora Albertov Krueger, her impeccable manners and ability to speak several languages marked her as different from the other immigrants.
Eleonora's Early Life
Very little is known about Eleonora's childhood. Despite insisting that everyone called her Nora, she dropped hints about having a very privileged up-bringing, as the daughter of a Russian nobleman and a Polish countess.
Nora described washing in a gold bath, being dressed by a maid and sleeping in a Royal bedroom. Her regal bearing and obvious education caused many in the village to believe she was a Russian princess.
Upon her arrival in Gabarevo, Nora initially lived with a Russian physician. The couple subsequently married when gossip concerning their relationship started to circulate.
The Arrival of Georgi Zhudin
Approximately a year after Nora had settled in the village, a young, frail man arrived with several other refugees. Georgi Zhudin was known to have shunned other people and be quite sickly- his friends claimed he suffered from tuberculosis.
Rumours soon began to circulate that Nora and Georgi were siblings, although the two of them never confirmed or denied the fact. To those who had began to suspect Nora of being Anastasia, the idea that Georgi was in fact the young Tzarovich Alexei seemed logical.
That the symptoms of tuberculosis are said to be similar to haemophilia seemed to add more proof to the theories. Physicians in the Russian court described Alexei as having a yellowy complexion, as Georgi was said to have.
Georgi died in the 1930's, but when his body was exhumed in 1995, it was discovered he was buried with a ladanka (an icon of Jesus Christ). This precious icon was only buried with Russians of noble birth. Added to this, when Nora passed on, she was buried to the right of Georgi, a tradition in Russian families.
The Evidence
Despite never claiming to be Anastasia herself, the supporters of Nora believe there is convincing evidence to substantiate the claim. The two were born in the same year and experts claim that facial featuers of 17 year old Anastasia and 35 year old Nora match when compared.
Added to this, in the 1950's, a Russian who had served on the White Guard claimed he was given the responsibility of smuggling Anastasia and Alexei out of Russia by the Tzar. He claimed that Anastasia was injured by the Red Army cavalry while travelling ( a fact said to be reinforced by a scar Nora had between her right cheek and neck) and they eventually arrived in Gabarevo.
Other evidence put forward includes the claim that Nora named her dog Maron (an anagram of Roman) and that a painting of flowers represented her murdered family.
That Eleonora Kruger was of nobility seems likely, her education, knowledge of ballet and regal bearing seem to be testament to a privileged up-bringing. However, like a lot of refugees, she never spoke of her past or the circumstances that led to her being in a small Bulgarian village.
Sources:
Radio Bulgaria: History and Religion, August 26 2005
Bulgarian Diplomatic Review: The Bulgarian Anastasia? November 2004
