Danish Officers in Finnish service - unknown headgear etc.

[Claes Johansen]

I just came across this photograph of three Danish officers in Finnish service during the Winter War. The picture is from the training camp in Oulu. I wonder where their caps originate from - perhaps the Finnish Civil Guard? They seem to be the same kind of caps that the two Hakala brothers are wearing at the beginning of the film version of Antti Tuuri's novel Talvisota - otherwise I don't think I've ever seen that model.

Likewise, the cartridge pouch worn by the officer on the left makes me wonder about its origin. Looks Swedish to me, as does the heavy sheepskin coat worn by the officer on the right.

[Juha Tompuri]

I just came across this photograph of three Danish officers in Finnish service during the Winter War. The picture is from the training camp in Oulu. I wonder where their caps originate from - perhaps the Finnish Civil Guard? They seem to be the same kind of caps that the two Hakala brothers are wearing at the beginning of the film version of Antti Tuuri's novel Talvisota - otherwise I don't think I've ever seen that model.

Might be Swedish origin (Skids)Mössa m/1939?
viewtopic.php?f=59&t=206524

Regards, Juha

[Claes Johansen]

Thanks, Juha. Looks like that might be it.

I wonder why the Hakala brothers are wearing similar hats, though. Might just be a mistake by the film makers. Or perhaps I remember wrong. I don't have that DVD with me at the moment and the full version no longer seems to be on YouTube.

The cartridge pouch seems to be identical to the one used by the Danforce unit (Den danske Brigade), trained in Sweden during 1943-45. Much of their equipment was Swedish, which is why I believe this to be Swedish, also. (Such equipment often popped up in army surplus stores in Denmark during the 1970s.)

There is a PDF here showing Danforce equipment. The mentioned cartridge pouch can be found on p. 9:

http://www.chakoten.dk/Den%20Danske%20B ... stning.pdf

[Fliegende Untertasse]

I wonder why the Hakala brothers are wearing similar hats, though.

They were Finnish m/27
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/86453498

[Claes Johansen]

Thanks. Mystery solved!

I pity the poor soldier in the picture, though. Reminds me of an old joke people used to have about the Danish Army. It said there were only two sizes of uniforms: Too Large and Much Too Large.