Jaeger Platoon, Finnish Army 1918 - 1945 Website updated

[Juha Tompuri]

Seems to be quite many different paulakengät/paulapieksut.
The one you mentioned, and the ones with laces, leather or fabric(?)


http://tulevaisuudenmuseo.blogspot.com/ ... ieksu.html


https://www.finna.fi/Record/siiri.urn:n ... 744970.jpg




http://www.suutarimestari.net/kuvagalle ... liset.html


https://www.kuvakokoelmat.fi/pictures/view/KK324_1

https://docplayer.fi/115473601-Lapikast ... rinto.html

[Tommy R]

For the next update on uniforms, I woudn't mind some info on the (Finnish) usage of the Swedish livpäls during the war, I havn't found much information on this subject.

Livpäls - it appears to be Swedish fur coat of some sort? I have seen no references about use of Swedish fur coats. Finnish Army did have its own fur coat designs that are already on the website, but they were typically only available to officers and senior NCO's (only notable exception: cavalry fur coat m/22, but it was no longer common item during World War 2) who had bought them with their own money.

Jarkko

Here's at least one photo of Os.Ku. patrol members wearing the livpäls, there are other photos scattered around SA-kuva with men wearing Swedish fur coats but it is not always clear if they are worn by Swedish volunteers or not.

/T

[JTV]

It would be worth noting to other readers that Os.Ku was Osasto Kuosmanen (Detachment Kuosmanen), one of the detachments of Detached Battalion 4, long range recon unit of Finnish Armed Forces General Headquarters during Continuation War. Hence it a special forces unit and those typically got/get what ever gear they ask, no matter if it is standard issue or not.

Jarkko

[Harri]

Hello again everyone! It's been a long time...

I think you mean "Osasto Kuismanen" (Detachment Kuismanen) led by Capt. Into Kuismanen? Interesting to see this photo in colour. This one is a LRP led by M.Sgt Viljo Suokas (third from right) and probably taken on 25.10.1941 after returning back home.

There are also other photos taken in the the same occasion in Porajärvi - Soutjärvi - Juustjärvi area (actual place was not mentioned). More men are seen in these, for example 2Lt. Vladi Marmo. If he was with the patrol it is interesting to note that Suokas despite of being NCO led the patrol instead of a commissioned officer. It was a common practice that the most experienced NCOs despite of the military rank led the patrols. A large portion of men were actually Lance Corporals, Corporals or Sergeants but during patrols no rank badges were used.

Knight of the Mannerheim Cross #44 M.Sgt Suokas was seriously wounded in action but died on his wounds on 4.10.1943 at Sekee before his transport by plane could be arranged. His body was temporarily buried on the Soviet side and the surrounding area was heavily entrapped with mines. His hidden body was later searched (until these days) but it was never found.

[Mangrove]

So I guess that during winters, most (frontline) soldiers replaces their ordinary boots with some sort of winter boots, be it laplander boots or other types?

Unfortunately there is no specific data in which extent soldiers were issued winter boots. It may have also varied from one part of frontline to another or depending unit type - not all units and all part of frontline had as much need for ski troops.

From an order issued by Panssaridivisioona (Ps.D) on 27 November 1942:

"b) Troops shall be issued felt ski boots or felt footwear and boots as the other pair for the winter season. Infantry units and similar may also issue leather footwear 20 % of their strength.
c) Felt ski boots are only to be used during combat or training and during guard duty. Leather footwear must be used during other times.
d) Excess footwear and all summer equipment (summer blouses, field caps, rubber and rubber tipped boots) must be collected and sent to "provisions supply centre" by infantry units by 10 December 1942."

[...] b) Talvikaudeksi jätetään joukoille huopahiihtojalkineet tai huopajalkineet ja toiseksi pariksi saappaat. Tämän lisäksi saavat jk. osastot ja vastaavat jättää käyttöönsä nahkajalkineita 20 % varusvahvuudestaan.
c) Hiihtohuopakenkiä sallitaan käyttää ainoastaan taistelutoiminnan tai harjoitusten aikaan sekä vartiopalveluksessa. Muuna aikana käytettävä nahkajalkineita.
d) Ylimääräiset jalkineet sekä kaikki kesävarusteet (kesäpuserot, kenttälakit sekä kumi- ja kumiteräsaappaat) on kerättävä pois ja jk.osastojen toimesta lähetettävä ETp:an 10.12.42 mennessä. [...]

[Mangrove]

Finnish Defence Forces footwear as listed on Defence Command's (Pääesikunta) document, dated 1 April 1955:

- Kengät, matalavartiset
- Yleiskengät
- Patiinit, kadettien
- Saappaat, miehistön
- Pieksusaappaat
- Huopasaappaat, nahoitetut
- Huopasaappaat, nahoittamattomat
- Hiihtohuopakengät
- Kumiteräsaappaat
- Kumisaappaat
- Vartiokengät
- Voimistelukengät

[Cloun]

Hi. Sombody. Give me advice for me please about master or a shop where I can buy uniform m/36 replica or fabric for finnish army uniform?

[Juha Tompuri]

Summer tunic replica seems to be availlable here:
https://www.varusteleka.com/en/search/s ... SXZEX0J3RQ..

Regards, Juha

[Cloun]

Thanks. But now i'm looking the winter tunic and trousers

[Mangrove]

Give me advice for me please about master or a shop where I can buy uniform m/36 replica or fabric for finnish army uniform?

The fabric specifications and exact colour of m/36 was different during different periods. The pre-war winter uniform fabrics were wool with a few percent of cotton while the worst quality used during the Continuation War contained mostly rayon and wool shoddy.

Tailor's pattern for M/36 and other Finnish uniforms can be found from period trade magazines.

[JTV]

Assuming he is the same person (Ilya), who contacted me by email in day before yesterday, what he told then he is looking a Winter War era uniform, hence one would assume that the fabric could be high quality wool used in uniform production before Winter War, not the type of poorer quality wartime fabrics, which as mentioned contained recycled materials and rayon. As mentioned in my reply email the only known shop selling World War 2 Finnish Army reproduction uniforms seem to be (Chinese) Hikishop and I have serious doubts about the fabrics that they use.

I am not in fabric business, but presumably to even search the correct wool fabric one would need to know at least:
- Colour (steel grey) - the easy part
- Composition of fabric
- Thickness of fabric
- Fabric density (presumably with-in certain specified perimeters)

[Cloun]

Yes. I am

[Cloun]

Can you help me?

[Cloun]

Dead Finnish and Russian soldiers don't deserve Hikishop-reenactment, do they? Please, help us make RIGHT reenactment. I know you can

[Mangrove]

I am not in fabric business, but presumably to even search the correct wool fabric one would need to know at least:
- Colour (steel grey) - the easy part
- Composition of fabric
- Thickness of fabric
- Fabric density (presumably with-in certain specified perimeters)

Here's specifications for asetakkikangas m/36 ("tunic fabric m/36") from 1949. It should be fairly similar to the pre-Winter War fabric or even slight better.

Width: 147 cm
Weight: 700 grams per linear metre ± 4 % at 147 centimetres. Equals to 457-495 g/m²
Warp: 9½ mm carded yarn, Z twist
Weft: 9½ mm carded yarn, S twist
Weave: 2/2 twill
Quality: Blend of South American and Australian 58s wool
Breaking strength: Warp = 57-60 kg, weft = 52-55 kg when sample size is 180 x 77 mm.
Colour: Grey blend, according to sample