Uniforms of the Swedish

Volunteer Corps in Finland, WWII

Introduction

The Finnish Winter War or simply The Winter War was fought in the four months following the Soviet Union's invasion of Finland on November 30, 1939. This took place only three months after the German invasion of Poland that triggered the start of World War II in Europe. It ended three and a half months later with the Moscow Peace Treaty on 13 March 1940. Despite superior military strength, especially in tanks and aircraft, the Soviet Union suffered severe losses and initially made little headway. Finland repelled Soviet attacks for more than two months and inflicted substantial losses on the invaders while temperatures ranged as low as −43 °C (−45.4 °F). After the Soviet military reorganized and adopted different tactics, they renewed their offensive in February and overcame Finnish defenses. Sweden, like many other countries in Europe, made neutrality declarations at the outbreak of World War II on 1 September 1939; among these countries were also Norway, Denmark, and Finland. When the Winter War broke out Sweden departed from their neutrality policy. In December 1939 the Swedish government officially declared itself as a non-belligerent state, supporting Finland in the conflict. This made it possible for Sweden to support Finland with military supplies and allowing recruitment of Swedish volunteers. The Soviet demands on Finland in the months prior to the outbreak of war had roused public opinion in Sweden. While there had been large demonstrations in support of Finland, Russia was a traditional enemy. Therefore, there was a strong feeling that it was better to defend Sweden on Finnish soil. Further, Finland was a fully integrated part of Sweden until 1809 when the nation had to surrender Finland to Russia after the Swedish-Russo War 1808 - 1809. Due to the long and deep ties between Sweden and Finland, there was a strong urge among Swedes to help Finland in the war. The Swedish Volunteer Corps (Swe: Svenska Frivilligkåren) was the name used for the corps of Swedish volunteers that fought in Finland during the Winter War. The corps was organized in Sweden by the Finland Committee (Swe: Finlandskommittén). On 12 December 1939, the committee was given a “go-ahead” from the Swedish government which allowed the committee to officially recruit volunteers and to purchase military equipment and arms from the Swedish Armed Forces to be delivered to the Swedish Corps’ base in Northern Finland. The campaign motto of the Finland Committee’s was “Finlands sak är vår” which roughly means The Finnish Cause is Ours. The sentence was coined by Swedish foreign minister Christian Günther. The campaign sought volunteers to fight with Finland against the Soviet invasion and resulted in circa 12,000 applicants, of which fully 8,000 eventually were sent to Finland. Also, the campaign provided economic aid, clothing assistance, and medical personnel. Many Swedish cultural personalities and journalists participated in the campaign. The first contingent of Swedish volunteers left Stockholm Central Station on 21 December 1939. Uniforms, arms, and other military equipment came from the Swedish Army. More information about the Swedish Volunteer Corps in Finland.

The Uniform of the Volunteer

Corps

The soldiers of the Swedish Volunteer Corps in Finland were equipped with the Swedish Army’s battle dress uniform m/1939. However, some modifications were made; the Swedish buttons were removed and replaced with the Finnish type of buttons with the Finnish Lion imprinted instead of the Swedish Three Crowns. The Corps insignia of the Swedish Volunteer Corps was worn on the collars. The different unit’s insignias of the Corps were worn on the shoulder straps. The Volunteer Corps were organized into three battle groups (strengthened battalions); the first battle group wore a unit insignia with an imprinted crossbow, the second group wore an imprinted mouse head, and the third group two crossed swords. The headgears were equipped with the Finnish military nationality insignia. Officers wore shoulder belts like in Sweden. The winter articles of clothing included fur-coats and fur hats m/1909 as well as white snow overalls. The rank insignias were worn at the bottom of the sleeves according to Finnish traditions. Officers wore rank insignias consisting of golden marks of roses while NCOs wore silver roses and other ranks silver stripes. For example; Second Lieutenant 1 rose, Lieutenant 2 roses, and Captain 3 roses. Sergeants wore 3 silver stripes (bars). However, in some cases, the officers wore Swedish rank insignias instead of the Finnish roses. The image to the right shows coat m/1939 which was used by the Swedish Volunteer Corps in Finland. On each shoulder strap of this particular coat is a round brass plate showing an imprinted crossbow which was the unit insignia for the First Battle Group. The collar holds the insignia of the Volunteer Corps; four hands holding each other. At the bottom of each sleeve is the rank insignia; 2 golden roses which are the rank of Lieutenant. The coats buttons are made of metal with the Finnish Lion imprinted. Image: Armémuseum, ID: AM.020073. DigitaltMuseum. This particular coat was worn by a Swedish officer in the Swedish Volunteer Corps in Finland during the Winter War, Lieutenant Melcher Wase Bo Gustaf Wernstedt, b. 1909. Wernstedt was enlisted in the Volunteer Corps on 26 December 1939 and was assigned to the First Battle Group under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Magnus Dyrssen. On 7 March 1940, he voluntarily joined a Swedish reconnaissance troop behind the Russian lines near Märkijärvi. The troop was spotted by the Russians and during the battle that followed Lieutenant Wernstedt tried to rescue a wounded soldier in the troop, private Winlöf, who had been shot in the knee. During the rescue operation, both Wernstedt and private Winlöf were killed. When the bodies of Lieutenant Wernstedt and private Winlöf were found after the armistice in mid- March both, bodies had been cleaned out except for their underwear. The garrison cap was made of green-gray broadcloth, at the front equipped with the Finnish nationality insignia. The insignia is a round cap badge, roundel, in the Finnish colors white and blue. The image to the left shows the garrison cap used by the Volunteer Corps in Finland. Image: Armémuseum, ID: AM.015873. DigitaltMuseum. The image to the right shows the skiing cap. Below the nationality insignia is a button with the Finnish Lion. Image: Armémuseum, ID: AM.104313. DigitaltMuseum. The image to the right shows the Swedish fur hat m/1909 used equipped with the Finnish nationality insignia for enlisted men in the Volunteer Corps. Bild: Miliseum, ID: MILI.000513. DigitaltMuseum. The image to the left shows the white snow parka (ski jacket) for enlisted men in the Volunteer Corps. The snow dress or ski wear consisted of white trousers, a jacket, and a cover for the knapsack. These garments were made of white cotton fabric. Image: Armémuseum, ID: AM.017176. DigitaltMuseum. The image to the right shows the white trousers of the ski-wear. Image: Armémuseum, ID: AM.017177. DigitaltMuseum. The image to the right shows the knapsack m/1939 used by the Volunteer Corps in Finland 1940. A white ski cover for the knapsack was part of the ski wear. Image. Armémuseum, ID: AM.017209. DigitaltMuseum.

Related Links

• Swedish Volunteer Corps in Finland, WWII • Norwegian and Danish Police Troops in Sweden • The Swedish Army Uniform m/1939 • Sweden’s Military Preparedness during the National Emergency of WWII, 1939 - 1945 • Swedish Army Uniforms - 1900s • Uniforms of the Norwegian and Danish Police Troops in Sweden, WWII • Reference Literature Top of page

The Swedish Volunteer Air Group in Finland,

F 19

The Swedish Volunteer Air Group in Finland (Swe: Svenska frivilligflottiljen i Finland or F 19 Finland) was a Swedish air unit forming an air group In Finland in 1940 during the so-called Winter War (The Finnish- Russo War 1940). Also the air group was wearing the Swedish uniform m/1939 modified for the Volunteer Corps. The image to the right shows Flight Sergent Thure Hansson (number 858), rear gunner with F 19, Swedish Air Group in Finland during the Winter War, 1940. On the shoulder strap is the insignia of the Swedish Air Group for the airmen, two wings. On the tap of the collar is the insignia of the Volunteer Corps, four hands (see to the left). Image: Flygvapenmuseum, ID: FVMF.004290. DigitaltMuseum. The image to the right shows Second Lieutenant Martin Wennerström, Fighter Pilot with F 19, the Swedish Air Group in Finland during the Winter War, 1940. On the shoulder strap is the insignia of the Swedish Air Group in Finland. Image: Flygvapenmuseum, ID: FVMF.004288. DigitaltMuseum