Anastasia's possible survival was one of the celebrated mysteries of the 20th century. In 1922, as rumors spread that one of the grand duchesses or that all of the family had survived a woman who later came to call herself Anna Anderson appeared in Germany and claimed to be Anastasia. She created a life-long controversy and made headlines for decades with some surviving relatives believing she was Anastasia and others not. Indeed, it was she who made Anastasia and her legend famous. Her battle for recognition continues to be the longest running case that was ever heard by the German courts where the case was officially filed. It began in 1938, and a final verdict was not handed down until 1970.