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Uniforms of the Swedish Landstorm

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Uniforms of the Swedish Landstorm

Introduction

An Act was passed the the Parliament of Sweden in 1885 about the establishment of the Landstorm, a military reserve consisting of conscripts (draftees) in the age group 27 - 32. From 1892 ages 33 to 40 and from 1914 ages 35 to 42. The Landstorm was the predecessor of the Swedish Home Guard established in 1940. Initially the Landstorm was only to be raised in case of war for local defense purposes. However, from 1901 the Landstorm became an active organization also in times of peace. A responsibility of the Landstorm was to guard and protect the mobilization of the Army in case of war. From 1914 the soldiers of the Landstorm were annually military trained for 5 days. Commanders of the Landstorm was recruited on a voluntary basis. During WWI the Landstorm were used for guard duties along the Swedish borderlines. Before 1936 these local defense units were only allowed to operate within their respective local defense district. In total there were 161 Landstorm local defense districts. Initially the men of the Landstorm wore civilian clothes with an Landstorm armlet and Landstorm hat m/1907. The armlet was a distinguishing mark of the Landstorm. However, according to the international rules of warfare of that time this wasn’t enough. A combatant in civilian clothes with an armlet and a military hat would not be defined as a military soldier and thereby not protected by the rules and regulation protecting military soldiers when taken prisoners of war. They were even risking being defined as spies. There were therefore a great demand to provide the men in the Landstorm with military uniforms. However, the state finances were strained in the beginning of the 1900s and the new conscript army established in 1901 was to be equipped first. As a compromise a thin uniform of cotton with a cut similar to the army uniforms were produced to be worn over civilian clothes. This uniform didn’t meet the quality of the army uniforms though and wasn’t really suited for battle conditions.

Landstorm Coat m/1905

Landstorm coat m/1905 was made of yellow-brown un-lined linen fabric. The coat was single-breasted with 5 buttons and equipped with a medium blue folded standing collar. The coat had two un-flapped pockets. Headgear was Landstorm cap m/1905. The image to the right shows Landstorm coat m/1905. Army Museum. Digitalmuseum.

Landstorm Coat m/1907

Landstorm coat m/1907 was made of gray un-lined cotton fabric. The coat was single-breasted with 5 buttons and equipped with a medium blue folded standing collar. The coat had two un-flapped pockets. The coat was actually fatigue coat m/1907 used by the Army but also assigned to the Landstorm as coat m/1907. The image to the right shows Landstorm coat m/1907. Army Museum. Digitalmuseum.

Landstorm hat m/1907

Landstorm hat m/1907 was similar to Army hat m/1906 (m/1910), a tricorne, and was made of soft gray felt. The underside of the brim was medium blue. See images below. The image to the left shows Landstorm hat m/1907. Försvarsmuseum Boden. Digitalmuseum.

Landstorm Armlet m/1911

Armlet m/1911 was composed of a Royal Crown made of blue cloth on a gray-green background. Commanders wore rank insignias on both sides of the crown. The image to the left shows Landstorm armlet m/1911. The image to the right shown armlets with rank insignias. One thin chevron was the rank insignia of a Deputy Section Commander. See images of rank insignias below. The image to the right is shown with consent of Christian Rosander.

Landstorm Cap Badge m/1905

Landstorm cap badge m/1905 was a round blue tin plate with of a yellow cross. The badge cap was used on Landstorm hat m/1907. However, Landstorm men not yet equipped with the Landstorm hat were wearing the cap badge on civilian hats. The image to the right shows Landstorm cap badge m/1905. Army Museum. Digitalmuseum.

Images of the Landstorm uniforms

Uniform m/1910

During WWI the Landstorm began replacing their civilian clothes by army uniform m/1910 consisting of Landstorm hat m/1907, coat m/1910 and trousers m/1910 and to some extent also greatcoat m/1910. Landstorm armlet m/1911 was worn on the left upper sleeve. In 1921 the Landstorm were equipped with combat helmet m/1921.

Landstorm cap m/1926

The Landstorm was equipped with a new cap in 1926. Landstorm cap m/1926 is similar to army cap m/1923 but made of light gray fabric. Rank insignias were worn on the cap together with Landstorm cap badge m/1926. Cap badge m/1926 is a smaller version of Landstorm cap badge m/1905 and made of cloth. The image to the right shows Landstorm cap m/1926, Battalion Commander. Army Museum.

Changes to the Landstorm Uniform in 1929

In 1929 there were new regulations regarding the Landstorm uniforms. The Landstorm officers were now authorized to wear uniform m/1910-1923 in times of peace. A new simpler uniform was introduced, uniform m/1910-1929 made of wadmal (Swe: komisstyg). A new type of rank insignias, m/1929, was introduced. The officer rank insignias were stars in blue color worn on the shoulder straps. Thereby they were no longer required to wear Landstorm armlet m/1911. NCOs and other lower ranks were not authorized to wear rank insignias on their shoulder straps until 1935 (chevrons and stripes). The image shows men wearing Landstorm uniform m/1910–1929 and Landstorm cap m/1926, probably around 1939 - 1940. The tunic had originally a standing collar. The tunics on the photo have folded collars and then have the designation m/1923-1937. The image is shown with the consent of Ola Strömbom, Högsby sockens hembygdsförening.

Combat uniform m/1939

The Landstorm was authorized to wear army combat uniform m/1939 in 1940. Rank insignias were worn on the shoulder straps according to the regulation of 1929 and 1935.

The disestablishment of the Landstorm 1942

A Parliament Act in 1942 disestablished the Landstorm and the responsibility for local defense was taken over by the newly established Home Guard (Swe: Hemvärnet).

Related Links

• Uniforms of the Swedish Home Guard • Military Uniforms of the Women’s Voluntary Defense Services • Uniforms of the Swedish Lotta Corps (Lottakåren) • Designation of Swedish military uniform models • Reference literature Top of page
A soldier of the Landstorm during WWI wearing armlet m/1911 on his left upper sleeve. Headgear is Landstorm hat m/1907 with Landstorm cap badge m/1905. Army Museum. Photo Hans Högman 2008. Landstorm hat m/1907 with Landstorm cap badge m/1905. Army Museum. Photo Hans Högman 2008. Landstorm armlet m/1911. Army Museum. Photo Hans Högman 2012. Landstorm men in Stockholm 1914. The people in the image are, from left: Carl Fredrik Rosander, Bäckström, Åhgren, Tham, Ekström, Flygare, von Lagerfelt and Hansen. The photo was taken outside Restaurant Pelikanen. As can be seen in the photo most men are wearing civilian clothes with an armlet. The tall man in the center with a beard is wearing an armlet with two chevrons of which one has a loop which was the rank insignia of a Landstorm Company Commander. See rank insignias below. The image is shown with consent of Christian Rosander. Carl Fredrik Rosander to the extreme left is Christian’s paternal grandfather. Landstorm men in Stockholm 1914. The image was taken in the Klara District of Stockholm. The image is shown with consent of Christian Rosander. Landstorm rank insignias m/1911. The rank insignias of the Landstorm were chevrons with or without loops. Wikipedia. Landstormsbataljonschef = Battalion CommanderLandstormskompanichef = Company CommanderLandstormsplutonchef = Platoon CommanderLandstormsadjutant = AdjutantLandstormstroppchef = Section CommanderLandstormshalvtroppchef = Deputy Section CommanderA section in this context is a troop smaller than a platoon. Swedish “Tropp” means troop.
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Swedish
Militaria Hans Högman
Copyright © Hans Högman 2020-07-23
Made with Xara

Uniforms of the

Swedish Landstorm

Uniforms of the Swedish

Landstorm

Introduction

An Act was passed the the Parliament of Sweden in 1885 about the establishment of the Landstorm, a military reserve consisting of conscripts (draftees) in the age group 27 - 32. From 1892 ages 33 to 40 and from 1914 ages 35 to 42. The Landstorm was the predecessor of the Swedish Home Guard established in 1940. Initially the Landstorm was only to be raised in case of war for local defense purposes. However, from 1901 the Landstorm became an active organization also in times of peace. A responsibility of the Landstorm was to guard and protect the mobilization of the Army in case of war. From 1914 the soldiers of the Landstorm were annually military trained for 5 days. Commanders of the Landstorm was recruited on a voluntary basis. During WWI the Landstorm were used for guard duties along the Swedish borderlines. Before 1936 these local defense units were only allowed to operate within their respective local defense district. In total there were 161 Landstorm local defense districts. Initially the men of the Landstorm wore civilian clothes with an Landstorm armlet and Landstorm hat m/1907. The armlet was a distinguishing mark of the Landstorm. However, according to the international rules of warfare of that time this wasn’t enough. A combatant in civilian clothes with an armlet and a military hat would not be defined as a military soldier and thereby not protected by the rules and regulation protecting military soldiers when taken prisoners of war. They were even risking being defined as spies. There were therefore a great demand to provide the men in the Landstorm with military uniforms. However, the state finances were strained in the beginning of the 1900s and the new conscript army established in 1901 was to be equipped first. As a compromise a thin uniform of cotton with a cut similar to the army uniforms were produced to be worn over civilian clothes. This uniform didn’t meet the quality of the army uniforms though and wasn’t really suited for battle conditions.

Landstorm Coat m/1905

Landstorm coat m/1905 was made of yellow-brown un-lined linen fabric. The coat was single-breasted with 5 buttons and equipped with a medium blue folded standing collar. The coat had two un-flapped pockets. Headgear was Landstorm cap m/1905. The image to the right shows Landstorm coat m/1905. Army Museum. Digitalmuseum.

Landstorm Coat m/1907

Landstorm coat m/1907 was made of gray un-lined cotton fabric. The coat was single-breasted with 5 buttons and equipped with a medium blue folded standing collar. The coat had two un- flapped pockets. The coat was actually fatigue coat m/1907 used by the Army but also assigned to the Landstorm as coat m/1907. The image to the right shows Landstorm coat m/1907. Army Museum. Digitalmuseum.

Landstorm hat m/1907

Landstorm hat m/1907 was similar to Army hat m/1906 (m/1910), a tricorne, and was made of soft gray felt. The underside of the brim was medium blue. See images below. The image to the left shows Landstorm hat m/1907. Försvarsmuseum Boden. Digitalmuseum.

Landstorm Armlet m/1911

Armlet m/1911 was composed of a Royal Crown made of blue cloth on a gray-green background. Commanders wore rank insignias on both sides of the crown. The image to the left shows Landstorm armlet m/1911. The image to the right shown armlets with rank insignias. One thin chevron was the rank insignia of a Deputy Section Commander. See images of rank insignias below. The image to the right is shown with consent of Christian Rosander.

Landstorm Cap Badge m/1905

Landstorm cap badge m/1905 was a round blue tin plate with of a yellow cross. The badge cap was used on Landstorm hat m/1907. However, Landstorm men not yet equipped with the Landstorm hat were wearing the cap badge on civilian hats. The image to the right shows Landstorm cap badge m/1905. Army Museum. Digitalmuseum.

Images of the Landstorm uniforms

Uniform m/1910

During WWI the Landstorm began replacing their civilian clothes by army uniform m/1910 consisting of Landstorm hat m/1907, coat m/1910 and trousers m/1910 and to some extent also greatcoat m/1910. Landstorm armlet m/1911 was worn on the left upper sleeve. In 1921 the Landstorm were equipped with combat helmet m/1921.

Landstorm cap m/1926

The Landstorm was equipped with a new cap in 1926. Landstorm cap m/1926 is similar to army cap m/1923 but made of light gray fabric. Rank insignias were worn on the cap together with Landstorm cap badge m/1926. Cap badge m/1926 is a smaller version of Landstorm cap badge m/1905 and made of cloth. The image to the right shows Landstorm cap m/1926, Battalion Commander. Army Museum.

Changes to the Landstorm Uniform in 1929

In 1929 there were new regulations regarding the Landstorm uniforms. The Landstorm officers were now authorized to wear uniform m/1910-1923 in times of peace. A new simpler uniform was introduced, uniform m/1910-1929 made of wadmal (Swe: komisstyg). A new type of rank insignias, m/1929, was introduced. The officer rank insignias were stars in blue color worn on the shoulder straps. Thereby they were no longer required to wear Landstorm armlet m/1911. NCOs and other lower ranks were not authorized to wear rank insignias on their shoulder straps until 1935 (chevrons and stripes). The image shows men wearing Landstorm uniform m/1910–1929 and Landstorm cap m/1926, probably around 1939 - 1940. The tunic had originally a standing collar. The tunics on the photo have folded collars and then have the designation m/1923-1937. The image is shown with the consent of Ola Strömbom, Högsby sockens hembygdsförening.

Combat uniform m/1939

The Landstorm was authorized to wear army combat uniform m/1939 in 1940. Rank insignias were worn on the shoulder straps according to the regulation of 1929 and 1935.

The disestablishment of the Landstorm

1942

A Parliament Act in 1942 disestablished the Landstorm and the responsibility for local defense was taken over by the newly established Home Guard (Swe: Hemvärnet).

Related Links

• Uniforms of the Swedish Home Guard • Military Uniforms of the Women’s Voluntary Defense Services • Uniforms of the Swedish Lotta Corps (Lottakåren) • Designation of Swedish military uniform models • Reference literature Top of page
Landstormsman vid tiden för första värlskriget. På vänster överärm ser vi armbindel m/1911. I landstormshatten m/1907 sitter landstormsmärke m/1905. Armémuseum.Foto Hans Högman 2008. Landstorm hat m/1907 with Landstorm cap badge m/1905. Army Museum. Photo Hans Högman 2008. Landstorm armlet m/1911. Army Museum. Photo Hans Högman 2012. Landstorm men in Stockholm 1914. The people in the image are, from left: Carl Fredrik Rosander, Bäckström, Åhgren, Tham, Ekström, Flygare, von Lagerfelt and Hansen. The photo was taken outside Restaurant Pelikanen. As can be seen in the photo most men are wearing civilian clothes with an armlet. The tall man in the center with a beard is wearing an armlet with two chevrons of which one has a loop which was the rank insignia of a Landstorm Company Commander. See rank insignias below. The image is shown with consent of Christian Rosander. Carl Fredrik Rosander to the extreme left is Christian’s paternal grandfather. Landstorm men in Stockholm 1914. The image was taken in the Klara District of Stockholm. The image is shown with consent of Christian Rosander. Landstorm rank insignias m/1911. The rank insignias of the Landstorm were chevrons with or without loops. Wikipedia. Landstormsbataljonschef = Battalion CommanderLandstormskompanichef = Company CommanderLandstormsplutonchef = Platoon CommanderLandstormsadjutant = AdjutantLandstormstroppchef = Section CommanderLandstormshalvtroppchef = Deputy Section CommanderA section in this context is a troop smaller than a platoon. Swedish “Tropp” means troop.
Swedish