Finnish Soldier of WW2 wearing a uniform of the M36 pattern tunic
Winter War 1939 - 1940
In the War between Finland and Russia in 1939 -1940, known as the Winter War, the Finnish Army had very little equipment. This soldier is wearing the M/36 tunic in the standard gray color, with four patch pockets and dark buttons embossed with the Finnish lion. He has also been issued with a cap, belt and ammunition pouch with a Finnish made Mosin Nagant rifle.
The soldiers of Finland made use of a great deal of surplus WW1 equipment. The rifle of the army of Finland, was the Russian based Mosin Nagant rifle. It was adopted partly as a result of the vast quantities of Russian rifles that the Finns inherited as a result of the Russian revolution and their own independence.
In the Winter War in combat the Finnish soldier would carry ammunition in a set of leather pouches. The pockets were large enough to carry ten rounds of ammunition in each pocket. The pockets had a leather flap, which was held closed by a leather strap and metal pillar stud. Many of these pouches were WW1 surplus
German ammunition pouches, intended for carrying 15 rounds in each pouch, but with the rimmed 7.62mm ammunition the Fins used there was room for only 10 rounds.
Finland issued its soldiers with a practical soft peaked uniform cap, also of the model of 1936, which had a blue and white cockade for soldiers.