Finnish Army 1918 - 1945: Military Uniforms, Part 5

Overview

• Focus on military uniforms during the Winter War and Continuation War.

Military Clothing Situation Before WWII

• Inadequate funding for military uniforms, boots, helmets, etc.
• 1920s: Only 10 million Finnish Marks allocated out of the needed 320 million for wartime troops.
• Military Revision Committee (1923-1926) proposed Basic Acquisitions Program to address shortcomings.
• By 1939, only 10 million had been spent of the 50 million allocated for acquisitions by 1942.

Production Capacity Issues

• State Uniform Factory (VPU) established in 1922, became sole manufacturer of military uniforms.
• Production capacity was limited and expanded only in 1939.

Mobilization for Winter War (1939)

• Mobilization revealed severe shortages in clothing:
  • 30% of needed footwear available (160,000 pairs).
  • 70% of military uniforms available, only 40% of greatcoats.
• Total inventory on September 7, 1939:
  • 272,000 uniform tunics
  • 288,000 trousers
  • 131,000 greatcoats
  • 332,000 field caps
  • 163,000 pairs of footwear
• Solution: Imported fabric, uniforms from Britain and Sweden, but issues with sizes and styles.

Winter War Uniform Supply (November 30, 1939)

• Improved inventory:
  • 317,267 tunics
  • 350,000 trousers
  • 219,864 greatcoats
  • 364,133 field caps
  • 175,000 rucksacks
  • 75,000 steel helmets
• Quality issues: Inventory didn’t match size needs of reservists.
• Soldiers often issued mixed civilian clothing, known as "uniform m/Cajander".

Production During Winter War

• Finnish textile industry mobilized to produce:
  • 191,000 tunics
  • 349,000 trousers
  • 742,000 shirts
  • 336,000 wool sweaters
  • 375,000 overcoats
  • 540,000 pairs of boots
• Focus on military uniform m/36.

Continuation War (June 1941)

• Shortages less severe; soldiers supplied with most items, but still faced:
  • 25% shortage in shirts
  • 20% shortage in pants
  • 60% shortage in fur hats.
• Imported 100,000 German uniform kits to address shortages.

Soldier Experiences and Feedback

• Soldiers requested increased flannel foot rags and addition of wool neck toques.
• Greatcoats found to be too long.
• Laplander boots favored as best winter boots.
• Issues with uniform durability, especially trousers.

Footwear Variety

• Types of boots issued:
  • Leather jackboots
  • Laplander boots
  • Felt boots
  • Rubber boots
• Different uses and effectiveness depending on weather conditions.

Snow Camouflage Clothing

• Used since Civil War; large-scale production during Winter War.
• Standard snow camouflage suit m/27 was widely issued; often improvised by soldiers due to supply issues.

Use of Captured Clothing

• Finnish soldiers often took Soviet uniforms and gear, including boots and shelter-halves.

"Military Elegance"

• Breeches replaced by straight pants during Continuation War.
• Clothing storages established for replacements and home leave appearances.
• Some items could only be obtained privately.

Wartime Changes in Uniform Markings

• Changes in collar patches and trouser stripes introduced around 1940-1941.
• Popularity of unit markings increased significantly during Continuation War.

Conclusion

• The winter conditions required adaptation in uniform designs and materials, with significant reliance on improvisation and foreign imports.
• The Finnish military's experiences laid a foundation for future uniform development and procurement strategies.