OTHER ITEMS OF MILITARY UNIFORM M/36

 

Greatcoat m/36 (mantteli m/36):

With military uniform m/36 greatcoat remained as the standard overcoat commonly used by all ranks. Greatcoat m/36 introduced with military uniform m/36 was directly based on earlier greatcoat m/22 and shared its main features in such degree, that in fact much of the greatcoats m/36 were in fact simply greatcoats m/22 modified to greatcoat m/36 standard. Both greatcoats had quite similar basic cut with two rows of buttons on the chest and was made from grey wool. The only notable visible difference in between them was color of collar, which changed from notably dark grey collar used in m/22 to somewhat lighter shade steel grey collar, that was only of slightly darker shade of grey than rest of the coat. According original uniform regulations from year 1937 there was a difference how collar of greatcoat was worn depending rank - namely officers, military officers, senior NCO ranks and cadets were allowed to open top two or three buttons of their greatcoat and turn the collar down, while this was not allowed to conscripts. As earlier greatcoat m/22, also greatcoat m/36 was quite heavy (4 – 5 kg / dry and substantially more when wet) and due to its length when worn limited soldier’s mobility. Even with its obvious limitations greatcoat m/36 served Finnish Army through World War 2 and remained in its use until replaced by notably shorter greatcoat M/65 (päällystakki M/65), which has collar made from the same fabric as rest of the coat.

PICTURE: Continuation War era photo intended to show soldiers kit of Finnish Army soldier at that time. Besides greatcoat m/36 the soldier is also wearing field cap m/36, leather belt m/30 with Finnish-made rubberized canvas ammunition pouch and short boots m/34. The two shoulder straps belong to bread bag and gas mask bag. The rifle is infantry rifle m/27. (SA-kuva.fi archive, photo number 139025). CLICK THUMBNAIL TO SEE LARGER PIC (135 KB).

 

Raincoat m/36 (sadetakki m/36):

This jacket was officially called raincoat m/36, but regardless its official title, the actual purpose for which it was probably mostly acquired was probably as a lighter trench-coat sort of overcoat for those professional soldiers who wished to buy one. Due to fabric from which this jacket was manufactured (wool and wool-mix) it was only water-proof in up to a point. Being item that only officers, military officials and senior non-commissioned officers could acquire at their own expense, it saw far more limited use than greatcoat. Its use was also limited to Army and Air Force, due not being approved as part of Navy uniform. It was officially approved for Army and Air Force in year 1937.

The basic design of this raincoat was based to earlier officer’s raincoat m/27 with some ideas from overcoat designed for experimental military uniform m/34 (but never put in actual production) mixed in. The experimental overcoat for military uniform m/34 had been a cotton jacket notably shorter than existing greatcoats and equipped with removable liner. Yet the design of rain coat m/36 looks quite similar to preceding officer’s raincoat m/27. Besides the color changing from brown-green-grey used in officer’s raincoat m/27 to steel grey, the basic look of raincoat m/36 is so similar that the two can usually identified from one another in period black-and-white photos only by button design. This rain coat is made from medium steel grey wool or mix of wool and other materials, it has very loose fit, two rows of three buttons in chest and open standing somewhat low downwards folded collar, which can be raised if needed. There is a flap and one additional button under collar for those situations in which the collar is raised. Cuffs have places for markings of rank and the jacket has epaulets and fabric belt made from the same fabric as rest of the jacket. It also has a slit back in the middle with buttons. Sleeves are normal straight sleeves without separate cuffs, although cuffs can be tightened. Length of the jacket is such that it reaches about 30 – 35 cm / 12 – 14 in from ground and it can be equipped with waterproof liner attached inside the jacket with buttons. The buttons used are grey flat large Bakelite (plastic) buttons. With raincoat m/36 officers used markings of rank placed on patches attached to jacket sleeves near the cuffs with three buttons, while non-commissioned officers and military officials carried rank markings on jacket epaulets. Due to this jackets that belonged to military officials and non-commissioned officers tend to have one of the three cuff buttons needed for attaching officers’ rank marking missing.

What is known suggests that rain coat m/36 had been originally intended as standard overcoat for military uniform m/36, but ultimately Finnish military decided against it – possibly to save finances because large number of greatcoats m/22 acquired earlier were still in serviceable condition and/or because this jacket was not considered to be stylish enough. In the grand scheme of things raincoat m/36 seems to have been somewhat poor design – as mentioned wool or wool mix probably made it pretty poor as a raincoat and apparently the hassle of using internal liner reduced the jackets suitability for field use. Hence it probably was not much of a loss for this jacket not being issued in large scale, although it is worth noting that Finnish Army did not issue any raingear to its soldiers during World War 2.

Oilcloth jacket (öljykangastakki):

This was another jacket that only officers, military officials and senior non-commissioned officers could acquire and only at their own expense. As mentioned due to its fabric of choice rain coat m/36 seem to have been less than efficient as a raincoat, which caused in year 1939 introduction of this jacket, that provided more reasonable level of protection from rain. The material used for it is shiny dark grey, almost black oil-treated cotton, which can be from a distance mistaken as black leather. Its size length-wise and basic design is somewhat similar to rain coat m/36, but it has substantial differences in jacket cut and numerous details. Jacket chest has six buttons in two rows with reinforcements and it has two rather large side pockets with slightly canted vertical pocket flaps. The jacket had seam in middle of the back with extending reinforced segments of fabric on shoulders, double layer fabric on upper back and slit in the back as well. It has standing folded collar and cuffs about 10 cm / 4 inches wide are lined, equipped with two buttons – that allow the cuffs be tightened when needed. Elbows are reinforced second layer of cloth and all parts expected to be potential weak points such as button holes, cuffs and pocket openings are leather-reinforced. Officers used patches with markings of their rank attached in sleeves near cuffs with buttons, while non-commissioned officers and military officials were to wear their rank markings on of patches that were to be attached on shoulders of the jacket. While this jacket apparently may have been somewhat popular, it also seems to have been quite a high price item during World War 2 and therefore quite rare.

PICTURE: Two Finnish Army officers with oilcloth coats. They are also wearing summer caps m/39, summer tunics m/36, and officer's leather belts m/27. The officer on the right has pistol holster for Parabellum pistol. (SA-kuva.fi archive, photo number 52541). CLICK THUMBNAIL TO SEE LARGER PIC (144 KB).

 

Tunics only intended for officers and military officials:

• Light tunic m/39 (kevyt takki m/36): In essence this was an updated version of officer’s summer tunic m/22 (kesätakki m/22), that was compatible with military uniform m/36. It was intended to be part of summertime parade/dress uniform and also to be well suited for duties such as office work. Original plan had been to include also non-commissioned officers to its users, but in the end it became an item that only officers and military officials could privately acquire for their own use. As to be expected color of the fabric used in this tunic was steel grey. The tunic could be manufactured from cotton or thin wool, with diagonal wool and cotton fabric also used in summer tunic m/36 apparently being popular materials. It was officially approved for use of Finnish Army and Coastal Artillery in spring of 1939, achieved popularity as dress uniform jacket among officers, remaining in that role until being replaced by tunics M/51 and M/58.

PICTURE: Light tunic m/39 belonging to Lieutenant (luutnantti) of heavy (field) artillery. Notice hidden buttons, design of pocket flaps and that the pocket flaps are not being closed with buttons. This tunic has been made from diagonal wool. Photo source Digitaltmuseum.se - original photo by Armémuseum (Sweden), CC BY 4.0 Creative Commons license. CLICK THUMBNAIL TO SEE LARGER PIC (85 KB).

The cut and design used in light tunic m/39 differs from officer’s summer tunic m/22 and it normally has no fabric half-belt, although apparently the half-belts can still be found in some of the early tunics. But the two tunic designs share some other notable details such as hidden front buttons, internal breast and side pockets that have flaps with pointed tips and no buttons on the flaps and simple cuff design. As normal tunic length was such that extended to soldier’s groin. It has been noted that there seems to be notable variations in these tunics with for example versions being made with full lining, partial lining (chest & shoulders) or without lining. Some of the jackets have fabric belt inside them for adjusting tunic waist. Normally these tunics have standard Finnish coast of arms lion buttons only in tunic epaulets, while rest of the buttons are flat buttons of any type. Tunic collar is dark grey, intended to be removable (probably to allow washing it separately) and originally was about 4 cm / 1.5 in wide standing collar. Due to its shape it also required use of collar patch (that carry markings of rank) version that were only used on this tunic model. Original standing tunic collar design proved uncomfortable and availability of its collar patches difficult. So in year 1941 original tunic design was replaced with new collar design which is also dark grey, but otherwise similar to normal military tunic m/36 collar – standing downwards folded collar about 5 – 7 cm / 2 – 3 in wide and was used with standard collar patches made for military tunic m/36. According uniform regulations when tunic collar patches were updated for promotion or change of service unit type, the collar was to be updated into newer version, due to which light tunics m/39 with original collar design are now very rare.

• (Officer’s) summer tunic m/39 (helletakki m/39): This was another special tunic model only intended for Army and Coastal Artillery officers and military officials, that was officially approved in spring of 1939. It was intended for warm summer days and on concept level may have been based to old officer’s white summer tunic designs of 19^th century Russian Army, although having white summer tunics for their officers was not exclusive to imperial Russian Army. According Finnish Army uniform regulations the tunic could be used only during summer months (May – September). The design of this tunic was otherwise similar to light tunic m/39, but the fabric it had been made from was white damask and it normally has only partial lining extending from shoulders to waist. Some of these tunics also have removable cushions inside the jacket for collecting sweat. Also the original standing tunic collar design used in this tunic was similar to one used in light tunic m/39 and got replaced with newer collar design in similar manner in year 1941. Apparently officer’s summer tunic m/39 enjoyed some popularity with officers, presumably enjoying particularly popularity among cavalry officers. According uniform regulations this tunic was only to be worn in season extending from May to September.

 

 

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