Aleksander Aberg
Encyclopedia
Aleksander Richard "Leks" Aberg (born August 11, 1881 in Kolga, Estonia
, Russian Empire
, died February 15, 1920 in Armavir, Krasnodar Krai
) was a famous Estonian professional Greco-Roman
and free-style wrestling World Champion of the early 20th century. He took part in the World Heavyweight Championship and was one of the three most famous Estonian professional wrestlers along with Georg Lurich
and Georg Hackenschmidt
.
Alex Aberg wrestled in North America (1913-14 and 1915-16) with mixed success. Together with Lurich he came back via Japan
and China
to Russia
in 1917 and arrived in Estonia in autumn. They participated in a wrestling tournament in Tallinn that remained unfinished due to the approach of the German troops. The athletes went to Saint Petersburg
and on to South Russia. The war meant an end to work in Saint Petersburg and Moscow
. It seemed better in the southern region controlled by white guards. However, the war spread and the men had to move further inside Russia. They could stop only in a far corner of South Russia Armavir. Their aim was to leave Russia across the Black Sea
by boat.
Unfortunately things took a dramatic turn in Armavir at the beginning of 1920. The front reached them, the town passed from hand to hand in battles several times, many perished, and there were masses of funerals. Warm winter brought on typhoid. Due to the war, medical aid was difficult to get. Lurich fell ill first and could not be rescued, dying on January 22, 1920. Aberg had also become infected but he managed to defeat the illness. Unfortunately he rushed his recovery, caught pneumonia
, and died on February 15, 1920. The wrestlers were buried in one grave in Armavir German cemetery.
Governorate of Estonia
The Governorate of Estonia or Estland, also known as the Government of Estonia or Province of Estonia, was a governorate of the Russian Empire in what is now northern Estonia.-Historical overview:...
, Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
, died February 15, 1920 in Armavir, Krasnodar Krai
Krasnodar Krai
-External links:* **...
) was a famous Estonian professional Greco-Roman
Greco-Roman wrestling
Greco-Roman wrestling is a style of wrestling that is practised worldwide. It was contested at the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and has been included in every edition of the summer Olympics held since 1908. Two wrestlers are scored for their performance in three two-minute periods, which can...
and free-style wrestling World Champion of the early 20th century. He took part in the World Heavyweight Championship and was one of the three most famous Estonian professional wrestlers along with Georg Lurich
Georg Lurich
Georg Lurich was a Estonian Greco-Roman wrestler and strongman of the early 20th century. Lurich was also the trainer of fellow countryman wrestler and weightlifter Georg Hackenschmidt and Aleksander Aberg.-Early life:...
and Georg Hackenschmidt
Georg Hackenschmidt
Georg Karl Julius Hackenschmidt was an early 20th-century Estonian strongman and professional wrestler, and the first free-style heavyweight champion of the world. He launched his professional career in Russia and lived most of his life in London, England, where he gained the nickname of 'The...
.
Alex Aberg wrestled in North America (1913-14 and 1915-16) with mixed success. Together with Lurich he came back via Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
in 1917 and arrived in Estonia in autumn. They participated in a wrestling tournament in Tallinn that remained unfinished due to the approach of the German troops. The athletes went to Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
and on to South Russia. The war meant an end to work in Saint Petersburg and Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. It seemed better in the southern region controlled by white guards. However, the war spread and the men had to move further inside Russia. They could stop only in a far corner of South Russia Armavir. Their aim was to leave Russia across the Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
by boat.
Unfortunately things took a dramatic turn in Armavir at the beginning of 1920. The front reached them, the town passed from hand to hand in battles several times, many perished, and there were masses of funerals. Warm winter brought on typhoid. Due to the war, medical aid was difficult to get. Lurich fell ill first and could not be rescued, dying on January 22, 1920. Aberg had also become infected but he managed to defeat the illness. Unfortunately he rushed his recovery, caught pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
, and died on February 15, 1920. The wrestlers were buried in one grave in Armavir German cemetery.