Finnish Army Tradition

[Chris Boonzaier]

I read that the Finnish Army tradition more or less starts with the 27th Prussian Jäger batln (a secret unit of Finns) and that the reason they chose the German helmet as the Finnish army helmet was because of theis tradition....

Any ideas on that?

[kevos4]

Finns got their equipment wherever they could find it

Chris,
After WWI, Europe was awash with military equipment. For the cash-strapped Finnish Army, there could not have been a better flea market from which to buy equipment to outfit their small army. So, besides using thousands of Russian rifles left in the Finnish arsenals, the Finns also bought more Nagant rifles from other countries. Flare pistols came from France, Germany and Austria. Helmets came from Germany. Leather goods like ammo pouches came from Germany, Poland, Russia, Austria and others. Shovels came from Sweden, Germany and Austria. Canteens came from everywhere.
The purchase of German helmets was expedient, not necessarily because the Jaeger battalion had also used them. Later, during the 20's and 30's, the Finns bought helmets from almost a dozen countries. Take a look at the wartime photos on my website www.kevos4.com and you will see helmets from Germany, Poland, Italy, Sweden, Czech, France and I have heard of British helmets being used by the Home Guard.
Check out my links sections for some great links to websites that have pictures of all the different types of Finnish helmets used since independence.
Marshall Kregel
Kevos4.com

[mietek]

Hi Marshall

the Finns also bought more Nagant rifles from other countries.

Not only bought, other countries after ww1 were in similar situation. Means big variety of types, calibres etc and problem with money.
Around 20' starts trade: weapon for weapon.
Poland send to Finland mosins, Finland to Poland mauzers.
From Poland to Latvia (or Estonia?) were send LeeEnefields, exchanged for mauzers.

Best Regards

mietek

PS Marshall, before my last visit to Finland your page was for me very helpfull thanks.

[kameli]

The Finnish army get helmets from foreign countries in period 1919-1944:

- 1919 from France 15 000
- 1920-1930 from Germany over 80 000
- 1940 from Hungary 72 000
- 1940 from Italy 30 000
- 1940 from Czechoslovakia (by private businessman) 50 000
- 1940 from Sweden (swedish volunteers) 8000
- 1940 from England (english volunteers) 155
- 1941 from Germany 25 000
- 1941 from Swedwn 20 000
- 1943 from Germany 24 000
- 1941-1944 from Soviet army (as a war booty) 35 000


Regards,
Jussi-Pekka