September, 1944
September, 1944, saw Audevälja village as crowdy as it was on the Keila-Haapsalu road, which was used by refugees to go to the west coast and search a way to boat-hike to Sweden.
23. September, there's a small skirmish in Keila, which doesn't stop the Red Army's momentum. During the evening, Red Army's forward patrols move through Kohila, Riisipere and Risti and enter the town of Haapsalu. This means that the refugee-road is cut.
People in the village of Audevälja get to see the chances when a light tank or armored vehicle starts patrolling in the outskirts in the dawn.
This crew has pretty exciting morning as they are hunting the cars driving on the road. Heino-Helmut Veidenstrauch, 13 at the time, was hiding in the forest with the family and remembers the events then as he saw the vehicle hunting a small car.
"There was a streak of flame in the air, tank shot the car with a machinegun. I just got a glimpse of the car as it drove behind a stone fence and dashed into the Silde forest. That's what saved it, when the tanl got onto the straight part of the road the car was gone. Tank shot couple more bursts and a lot of swearing in russian was heard."
It turns out later that there was a guy from Vasalemma and his companion in that car. In the morning darkness and through the fumes of previously consumed alcohol the almost rammed the tank but were able to react faster and escape. The companion was injured, but survived.
But the tank-crew learned from the mistakes and were more careful. Couple of hours after the first car, around 10-11 am, a 15 years old local boy Erich Hiiemäe saw a car closing in from the direction of town of Keila. Car was small and in grey-blue color. There was 3 big guys, a pregnant woman inside and another guy sitting on the front fender.
Car drives past the boy's farmhouse, named Pärdi Farm, and closes on the village store. The car is stopped there by the shopkeeper Johannes Sildre, who tells that there's a soviet tank up ahead on the road.
Erich wasn't able to see the motorists alive. They closed the car door and drove off, but when they get back to the farmhouse the tank appears from behind the store and this time the machinegun fire is accurate. The men and pregnant woman inside are killed and the fellow on the fender jumps over the stone fence and runs, leaving the coat behind.
Owner of the Pärdi farm finds the coat from the field and from the pocket comes out a picture with a man on it, on it is mentioned the shooting location - either Keila or Viljandi. As the family perishes, so does the picture.
When the day advances Erich goes to see the site. It was horrible - pregnant woman is lying on the road, dead, wearing long and pretty violet dress and shoes, she had dark hair. Other 3 men were wearing uniform and were presumably officers.
Couple of days later the remnants are buried. Schoolteacher Kurikjan says the Lord's words and only one actually daring to bring flowers to the grave is a woman thought to be half-insane.
Soviet soldiers have taken away the weapons and the car, leaving the passengers leather suitcases behind. Soon, these were gone too. Villagers hear that one of them contained baby's clothes - all the earthly possessions the yet unborn 5th victim.
Legend of this happening is remembered all through the occupation times, so this year it is decided to find this place. A few fellows who search war graves and othe historical places search it up. From the grave are found a ring and a the woman who was pregnant for the last weeks had a key - she had hoped to be able to come back home.
The remnants are to be properly buried to a cemetary.
The story in Estonian newspaper
The story is going to be continued, soon. With victim names and they're own personal tragedy - 2 brothers, fighting on opposite sides.
23. September, there's a small skirmish in Keila, which doesn't stop the Red Army's momentum. During the evening, Red Army's forward patrols move through Kohila, Riisipere and Risti and enter the town of Haapsalu. This means that the refugee-road is cut.
People in the village of Audevälja get to see the chances when a light tank or armored vehicle starts patrolling in the outskirts in the dawn.
This crew has pretty exciting morning as they are hunting the cars driving on the road. Heino-Helmut Veidenstrauch, 13 at the time, was hiding in the forest with the family and remembers the events then as he saw the vehicle hunting a small car.
"There was a streak of flame in the air, tank shot the car with a machinegun. I just got a glimpse of the car as it drove behind a stone fence and dashed into the Silde forest. That's what saved it, when the tanl got onto the straight part of the road the car was gone. Tank shot couple more bursts and a lot of swearing in russian was heard."
It turns out later that there was a guy from Vasalemma and his companion in that car. In the morning darkness and through the fumes of previously consumed alcohol the almost rammed the tank but were able to react faster and escape. The companion was injured, but survived.
But the tank-crew learned from the mistakes and were more careful. Couple of hours after the first car, around 10-11 am, a 15 years old local boy Erich Hiiemäe saw a car closing in from the direction of town of Keila. Car was small and in grey-blue color. There was 3 big guys, a pregnant woman inside and another guy sitting on the front fender.
Car drives past the boy's farmhouse, named Pärdi Farm, and closes on the village store. The car is stopped there by the shopkeeper Johannes Sildre, who tells that there's a soviet tank up ahead on the road.
Erich wasn't able to see the motorists alive. They closed the car door and drove off, but when they get back to the farmhouse the tank appears from behind the store and this time the machinegun fire is accurate. The men and pregnant woman inside are killed and the fellow on the fender jumps over the stone fence and runs, leaving the coat behind.
Owner of the Pärdi farm finds the coat from the field and from the pocket comes out a picture with a man on it, on it is mentioned the shooting location - either Keila or Viljandi. As the family perishes, so does the picture.
When the day advances Erich goes to see the site. It was horrible - pregnant woman is lying on the road, dead, wearing long and pretty violet dress and shoes, she had dark hair. Other 3 men were wearing uniform and were presumably officers.
Couple of days later the remnants are buried. Schoolteacher Kurikjan says the Lord's words and only one actually daring to bring flowers to the grave is a woman thought to be half-insane.
Soviet soldiers have taken away the weapons and the car, leaving the passengers leather suitcases behind. Soon, these were gone too. Villagers hear that one of them contained baby's clothes - all the earthly possessions the yet unborn 5th victim.
Legend of this happening is remembered all through the occupation times, so this year it is decided to find this place. A few fellows who search war graves and othe historical places search it up. From the grave are found a ring and a the woman who was pregnant for the last weeks had a key - she had hoped to be able to come back home.
The remnants are to be properly buried to a cemetary.
The story in Estonian newspaper
The story is going to be continued, soon. With victim names and they're own personal tragedy - 2 brothers, fighting on opposite sides.
One of the victims:
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