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This picture was taken in August of 1958. The location was in Germany, specifically at a small winery just outside of Bernkastel-Kues. This picture looks like a movie still from "Catwoman and the Beastly Barman." Actually, this was the beginning of a tale far more sinister.
The woman in the photo is Fräulein Kraumpf. She was born during the early years of WWII and was orphaned when her parents were parachuted into the then Italian controlled Ethiopian highlands. Their mission was to start Riesling production without the Italians knowing it. The Mosel Wine Growers' Association had plans to expand into a global force and the Ethiopian market was to be their first major expansion. Unfortunately the local villagers were terrified at the sight of the parachutes and chased the pair into the dense forest. A couple of cheetahs enjoyed a surprise meal and the Mosel expansion came to an abrupt end.
Anna Kraumpf was taken in by a kindly French winemaker on the border with Germany. Anna never learned to speak German but strangely enough she never lost her German accent. The French winemaker, Monsieur Leback, had a cousin who was in the famed Luxembourg Quarter Ring Circus. Anna spent her summers with her cousin and became accomplished at many circus talents. When she turned 18 she returned to Bernkastel-Kues. At her Uncle's winery she would put on afternoon shows for the local tourists. One day she met a suave gentleman, Herr Minegold. The two fell in love and Minegold told Anna that he worked for the BND. She was intrigued and was finding herself drawn to the patriotism of the new West Germany.
One day the BND discovered that the Soviets were working on a new weapon to be used against Europe. It was a variant strain of yeast that would destroy the wine industries of Western Europe. The work was being done in a castle in Poland. The walls of the castle came up to a sharp ridge with holes all along the ridgeline for flags (the prince who had built the castle was a very big fan of flags and there were a lot of holes). The agent needed for the mission to destroy the yeast had to know wine and be able to walk a wall with lots of holes in its top. Minegold told Anna and the BND high command approved of her quickly.
Anna successfully penetrated the castle and planted the Roundup bomb (Monsanto didn't market Roundup until the 1970s but the formula was a CIA developed weapon from the 1950s). The vines and the yeast were destroyed. The Soviets never knew there was sabotage - they just thought the experiment failed.
Unfortunately this was not the end of the yeast. A rogue division of the KGB had already acquired a large canister. It would take another decade and a half but they would get it into Napa valley. Unfortunately for the Soviets, the yeast worked perfectly and had it been in Europe economic ruin would surely have followed. But this was California and the sugary sweet "White Zinfandel" craze made millions for Sutter Home and Berringer. Who knew it would just take infected yeast to produce wine Americans would finally drink?
This picture was taken in August of 1958. The location was in Germany, specifically at a small winery just outside of Bernkastel-Kues. This picture looks like a movie still from "Catwoman and the Beastly Barman." Actually, this was the beginning of a tale far more sinister.
The woman in the photo is Fräulein Kraumpf. She was born during the early years of WWII and was orphaned when her parents were parachuted into the then Italian controlled Ethiopian highlands. Their mission was to start Riesling production without the Italians knowing it. The Mosel Wine Growers' Association had plans to expand into a global force and the Ethiopian market was to be their first major expansion. Unfortunately the local villagers were terrified at the sight of the parachutes and chased the pair into the dense forest. A couple of cheetahs enjoyed a surprise meal and the Mosel expansion came to an abrupt end.
Anna Kraumpf was taken in by a kindly French winemaker on the border with Germany. Anna never learned to speak German but strangely enough she never lost her German accent. The French winemaker, Monsieur Leback, had a cousin who was in the famed Luxembourg Quarter Ring Circus. Anna spent her summers with her cousin and became accomplished at many circus talents. When she turned 18 she returned to Bernkastel-Kues. At her Uncle's winery she would put on afternoon shows for the local tourists. One day she met a suave gentleman, Herr Minegold. The two fell in love and Minegold told Anna that he worked for the BND. She was intrigued and was finding herself drawn to the patriotism of the new West Germany.
One day the BND discovered that the Soviets were working on a new weapon to be used against Europe. It was a variant strain of yeast that would destroy the wine industries of Western Europe. The work was being done in a castle in Poland. The walls of the castle came up to a sharp ridge with holes all along the ridgeline for flags (the prince who had built the castle was a very big fan of flags and there were a lot of holes). The agent needed for the mission to destroy the yeast had to know wine and be able to walk a wall with lots of holes in its top. Minegold told Anna and the BND high command approved of her quickly.
Anna successfully penetrated the castle and planted the Roundup bomb (Monsanto didn't market Roundup until the 1970s but the formula was a CIA developed weapon from the 1950s). The vines and the yeast were destroyed. The Soviets never knew there was sabotage - they just thought the experiment failed.
Unfortunately this was not the end of the yeast. A rogue division of the KGB had already acquired a large canister. It would take another decade and a half but they would get it into Napa valley. Unfortunately for the Soviets, the yeast worked perfectly and had it been in Europe economic ruin would surely have followed. But this was California and the sugary sweet "White Zinfandel" craze made millions for Sutter Home and Berringer. Who knew it would just take infected yeast to produce wine Americans would finally drink?
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5 years ago
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Hi, i do like the picture and the story to it. Would you be able to tell me more about Anna Kraumpf (Bianca Passarge)whereabouts? As i would like to use the picture but want to verifie with the above person first. Thank you very much for your help. My email: ralfhoegger@gmail.com
cool acrobat!!