Grand Duchesses Olga and Tatiana Nikolaevna playing with their little cousins Princes Georg Donatus and Ludwig of Hesse and By Rhine, also with their maternal uncle Grand Duke Ernst Louis of Hesse and By Rhine, Livadia Crimea 1912 🤍
On this day 86 years ago, 6 members of the Hesse and by Rhine family were killed after their plane crashed in Belgium. The victims were the Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine, Georg Donatus, his pregnant wife, the Grand Duchess of Hesse and by Rhine, Cecilie, her fetus, his mother, Dowager Grand Duchess Eleanor, and his two sons, Princes Ludwig and Alexander of Hesse and by Rhine.
I recently got Thomas Aufleger's edition on Ernst Ludwig Memoirs: "Ernst Ludwig Großherzog von Hessen und bei Rhein - Geschehnisse und Menschen, Erinnerungen". And I must write a little review from my humble point of view, because this book is a treasure.
After buying Thomas' book on Gretchen von Fabrice (Alix of Hesse's maid and personal friend) I had high expectations on his edition of Ernie's memoirs, and this book really meet them.
At first glance, the book caught my attention for its quality and design. One can tell it was done with care, love and attention to every detail, as if I Ernst Ludwig himself had been in charge of editing it.
I leave a photo of the pages dedicated to Elisabeth, which illustrate very well the approach of the book:
Almost every page is illustrated with never-before-seen images of fine art, portraits, personal belongings, letters, drawings or photographs that come from Ernie's personal albums or collections held at the Hessian State Archives. Also, each page includes a few footnotes that help you understand what or who Ernst is talking about. These footnotes often include extra information as excerpts of personal letters, vintage articles or memoirs that really make you feel as if Ernst was talking to you personally.
I can only congratulate Thomas for this masterpiece and wish him the best of luck. I don't understand German myself, but the book's clear structure, organised in chapters based on different topics, makes it easy for the reader to find what they are looking for and they can translate it, as I do, with an online translator or app. Also, as it is very richly illustrated, it is easy for the reader to find the pages in which Ernst talks about the royal or event they are interested in. Even if you don't understand German, give this book a chance, you won't regret it.
The main reason I like this picture is that Ella is smiling in a very different, spontaneous way. Her eyes are involved in the smile. She has not turned into the “ethereal” beauty yet. I don't have a date for the picture. It might be around her engagement to Serge.
In the picture, from left to right: A very young Ernst Ludwig with a pup under each arm, Ella with a little girl in her arms whom I don't know; sitting on the steps in front of Ella, Princess Victoria, standing by Ella, Princess Alix, sitting right in front of Alix, the Grand Duke Ludwig IV, and sitting next to him, Grand Duke Serge.
There are two young women in the photo, one sitting next to Victoria and the other standing behind Sergei, whom I do not know.
Alice, the Princess Louis of Hesse and her husband Prince Louis of Hesse at the wedding of Alice's brother Albert Edward and Princess Alexandra of Denmark on 10th March 1863.
Grand Duchess Eleonore of Hesse and by Rhine, Prince Georg Donatus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine and his wife, Hereditary Duchess of Hesse and by Rhine and Prince Louis of Hesse and by Rhine at the Bayreuth Festival in 1932.