Blink and you would miss it, Mustla is just nothing, a population of circa 800 and falling as the big cities call the youth away. I just happened to be driving through on my way back to Viljandi, when the voice in my head told me I should stop and wander. maybe some windows to climb through
Sometimes I am happy to listen to these voices.
What a fantastic old indicator for thirsty travellers hung on the wall of what I believe to have been a hostelry; around since the 17th century. To the uneducated populace of the era, a physical sign was of far greater value than the written word.
It is now boarded up and abandoned.
That was it just a few boarded up places, no one on the street. No one to talk to; but if I had returned to my car I would have missed these stunning pieces of well I guess I would call it "posh Graffiti"
Someone is an obvious lover of all things equine, the village has no connection to horses.
The monument to the fallen of the War of Independence has had an eventful existence. Originally unveiled in June 1937, then during Soviet occupation in June 1941 it was demolished , to be once again erected in July 1942 during the German occupation.
In 1948 when Estonia was incorporated into the USSR it was again demolished; until in 1990 the restored variant was unveiled.
Close by was a memorial plaque, to a German Officer adorned with the Iron Cross. My interest was immediately piqued. I visited a nearby graveyard hoping it may hold further information and clues for me. I needed to know.
It didn't.
Alfons Vilhelm Robert Rebane
Simply known as "Alf", I have since learnt he had a rather wonderful and fortuitous life. The memorial, much to the protests of the Russian Federation was unveiled in 2018, on the wall of the house in which he lived 1935-39.
Serving as an Officer in the Estonian army until the Russian occupation of the country, he then led a unit of the clandestine Forest Brothers, a resistance movement to the Soviet Forces.
When Germany re engaged and took control again of Estonia, Alf joined them initially with the Wehrmacht latterly as an officer in the Waffen SS.
During the conflict he was awarded
Estonian Defence League White Cross 3rd Class
Latvian Aizsargi Cross of Merit
Iron Cross 2nd & 1st class
Infantry Assault Badge
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Close Combat Clasp
The most highly decorated Estonian officer during WW2.
At the conclusion of WW2 Alf moved to the UK where he joined MI6, the overseas intelligence arm of the British Secret Services. Retiring to Germany in 1961. Where in 1976 he died. (freely available image)
Now that is a life lived!
The Graveyard
Alas, I walked around and around and around, often stumbling amongst the exposed gnarled tree roots, or hidden grave stones, long being reduced to rubble.
There was nothing to enlighten me further, on Alf as I now know him. I did snap other wonderful memorials though.
The hotel/inn from the village centre, Google translate tells me nothing, it only deepens the mystery, something about a fire in 2015.Maybe this is part of a larger stone, now lost?
Markers ancient and new.
The pompous
The poignant
The famous.
Martin Klein, a farmer, competed in the 1912 Olympics for the Russian Federation, he was the first Estonian to win an olympic medal. Silver in the middleweight wrestling competition.
In the semi final bout he eventually overcame the world champion Alfred Asikainen in the longest match ever recorded 11hr 40 min. he was too exhausted to compete in the final the next day
Klein in the black shorts, Asikainen in white (freely available image).
So I guess the the motto of this tale is never judge a book by its cover, Mustla on the face of it offered nothing; but it delivered so much.
Had I not stopped and wandered, these remarkable people would have remained unknown to me, to you. I hope you enjoyed.
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I really enjoyed, the story and photos. Estonia is small but freedom-loving country.
cheers @zirochka
Estonia is beautiful, simply a wonderful place to visit
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Your spontaneity paid off. Looks like a great little town. The tavern sign is super cool - probably one of the best I've seen. Looks like it belongs in a fantasy movie like LOTR's or something.
cheers @leaky20 , sometimes it pays off to listen to the voices in your head. The place did have atmosphere
It is kinda sad that small villages are dying out, but there is no work like it used to be during the USSR. Even small cities are slowly dying out because youths are choosing capitals. It is pretty much the same in Latvia and Lithuania.
You should visit Baltics, especially Latvia when they commemorate the Waffen-SS on March 16th. Not recognised by the parliament but no one forbids the procession. Baltics are very strong on the times they were under Germans because somehow they are heroes for saving them from Russia 😏
Thanks for engaging @rimicane , yes i get the impression from talking to people in Estonia that in general there is a lot of anti soviet feeling.
See I have never heard of the march in March, that must be awesome, that needs to be seen . Note to 2023 diary!!
How fuck did you find this small Mustla 🤔👌👌 I know this place 😆☺👌👌👌
lol @foxkoit , I was just driving through, tbh. I tell you no lies a voice in my head said " I think you should stop and have a stroll". So I did, I loved it.
:)) ... I have been lot in this small village :))
wow! I hope I did it justice
Wow many historical lessons in this post. I love the paintings of horses. And the 11h and 40 minutes wrestling match is crazy.
thanks for engaging @dodovietnam yes 11h 40m , wow that needs energy and stamina.
Hi, really very captivant story.
thank you @triplug , glad you enjoyed
Beautiful post
thank you @juliasibillotte
very good post and very interesting, great job
cheers @nicolasbernada for your words of support
Hiya, @ybanezkim26 here, just swinging by to let you know that this post made it into our Honorable Mentions in Daily Travel Digest #1460.
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Very interesting info about the rich history of the place. Especially admirable is the fact that they build and rebuild their monuments that often to honour this part of their history
thanks for engaging @timoremoti , yes for such a tiny place, the will to keep the past alive is good to see
Nice post @grindle 👍.
cheers @techlhab