Smugglers, spies & escapes · 06.06.1952
Taevaskoja bunker and the trap at Ristipalo
In autumn 1951 the band of Jaan Roots, one of the best known groups of Forest Brothers in southeast Estonia, built a bunker about 400 metres south of the Suur Taevaskoda sandstone cliff. It had a storeroom and a living room with a stove and bunks for ten men; they even baked bread there. On 6 June 1952 Roots heard that a large sum of money would arrive at Ristipalo near Räpina. It was a trap. Security men waiting in the building opened fire and Roots and two others died. The driver, August Sabbe, escaped. Elmar Kurvits of the band later legalised and worked as a warden at Taevaskoja. The pin is approximate.
Open it on the map See the spot on the old maps and as it is today
Eesti keeles
1951. aasta sügisel ehitas Jaan Rootsi salk, üks Kagu-Eesti tuntumaid metsavendade salku, punkri Suure Taevaskoja kaljust umbes 400 meetrit lõuna poole. Punkris oli eesruum varude jaoks ning eluruum ahju ja kahekordsete naridega kümnele mehele, seal küpsetati isegi leiba. 6. juunil 1952 sai Roots teada, et Räpina juurde Ristipallo tuleb suur rahasumma. See oli lõks. Majas varitsenud tšekistid avasid tule ning Roots ja veel kaks meest said surma. Autojuht August Sabbe pääses. Salga liige Elmar Kurvits legaliseerus hiljem ja töötas Taevaskojas maastikukaitseala valvurina. Märk on ligikaudne.
Source: Estonian Wikipedia: Jaan Roots (metsavend); Elmar Kurvits. ↗