In the pro-Russian segment of social media, a fake image is circulating that allegedly shows the grandmother of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen shaking hands with Adolf Hitler in 1940. However, this claim is a manipulation and yet another example of disinformation.

This was reported by StopFake.

In reality, Ursula von der Leyen acquired the surname “von der Leyen” after marrying Heiko von der Leyen. Her maiden name was Albrecht – her family belongs to an old German aristocratic lineage. Accordingly, she could not have had a grandmother with the surname “von der Leyen”.

According to public sources, including the genealogical service Geneastar, the politician’s grandmothers were named Adelaide Berg and Gertrud Ohlrogge. The name “Christina von der Leyen”, which propagandists attribute to the woman in the photo, does not exist in her family tree.

The photograph used by pro-Russian propagandists is kept in the East Prussian Library. It depicts Hildegard Zantop, a farmer from the town of Nauen. The photo was taken in 1937, not in 1940 as the authors of the fake claim. The event shown is the celebration of Harvest Day in the town of Bückeburg, organized by the Nazi authorities.

There is no information about the woman’s later life or her family. However, it is known for certain that she has no connection whatsoever to Ursula von der Leyen.

The spread of such fakes is a typical practice of Kremlin propaganda, which seeks to discredit European leaders through personal attacks and false historical associations.