For non-commissioned officers the rank insignia was still worn only on the sleeves. The cadre NCO's wore a distinct insignia, which was later worn by enlistees (värvätty). [1]
Some of the branch colors were already changed in 1937. All cavalry collar tabs had their backing and piping colors inverted due practical reasons. After this reform the backing color of all cavalry collar tabs was yellow. [2]
According to the 1939 uniform regulations, the changes were to be done on the collar tabs by 1st January 1940. [3] Although the changes to the insignia were ordered before the Winter War, they were often not applied in practice before the start of the hostilities. The older uniform articles m/22 and m/27 with their distinct rank insignia were also still in use with their own standing rank insignia regulations. [4]
The generals' collar tab piping color was unified with the other branches, this meant that the generals no longer wore golden piping and spruces on the collar. [5]
On 13th June, 1941, Field Marshal Mannerheim ordered reserve officer ranks to be discontinued and they were admitted active service ranks. The silver roses worn by reserve officers were replaced with their golden counterparts. Despite that, career officers could still be distinguished from the lion insignia worn on the epaulets, however wearing of the said insignia was discontinued in 1942. [6] On the same date the distinction between reserve NCO's and cadre NCO's was removed, however due the low availability of NCO collar tabs, the fulfillment of older regulations with rank displayed on epaulets was still allowed. [7]
One difference to the ranks moved to collar was the rank of korpraali. The rank was not displayed on the collar tab with a single chevron, but the older chevron on the epaulet. The previous NCO collar tab was incorporated for enlisted cadre personnel (värvätty mies), whilst single chevron in the collar tab signaled the rank of värvätty korpraali. [8]
The wartime realities meant that the usage of collar tabs was rather uncommon, especially among enlisted personnel. This meant that the enlisted personnel wore no collar tabs and non-commissioned officers wore their insignias as simple stripes in the epaulets. Officers often also wore their roses directly on the collar due threat of enemy snipers, similarly to the m/27 Uniform's regulations.
[9]
Branch / Unit | Collar tab backing | Collar tab piping | Hat piping | Trouser piping | Trouser piping width |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Generals | According to branch | According to branch | According to branch | According to branch | 2 |
General Staff Officers | Carmine | Grey | Carmine | Carmine | 3 |
Standard uniform | Dark green | Light grey | Dark green | Dark green | 1 |
Infantry | Dark green | Light grey | Dark green | Dark green | 1 |
Jaeger Units | Dark green | Yellow | Dark green | Dark green | 4 |
Border Guard | Dark green | Orange | Orange | Dark green | 4 |
Artillery, fortification artillery, anti-air forces | Red | Black | Red | Red | 4 |
Cavalry | Yellow | Grey | Yellow | Yellow | 4 |
Uusimaa Dragoon Regiment | Yellow | Dark blue | Yellow | Yellow | 4 |
Häme Cavalry Regiment | Yellow | Dark red | Yellow | Yellow | 4 |
Signals Squadron | Yellow | Violet | Yellow | Yellow | 4 |
Pioneer forces | Violet | Grey | Violet | Violet | 1 |
Signal forces | Violet | Yellow | Violet | Violet | 1 |
Fortification forces (1944-) | Violet | Black | Violet | Violet | 1 |
Armoured forces | Black | Orange | Orange | Black | 4 |
Anti-tank units (1944-) | Black | Orange | Orange | Black | 4 |
Field Bishop and Chaplains | Black | Grey | Black | Black | 5 |
Coastal artillery | Black | Red | Red | Red | 4 |
Aviation forces | Light blue | Black | Light blue | Light blue | 1 |
Storages | Light blue | Light grey | Light blue | Light blue | 1 |
Logistics forces | Light blue | Light grey | Light blue | Light blue | 1 |
Hospitals and Pharmacies | According to branch | According to branch | According to branch | According to branch | According to branch |
Cadets | Dark blue | Yellow | Dark blue | Dark blue | 6 |
Helsinki Garrison Band | Dark blue | Light grey | Dark blue | Dark blue | 1 |
Oulu Garrison Band | Dark red | Grey | Dark red | Dark red | 1 |
For non-commissioned officers the rank insignia was still worn only on the sleeves. The cadre NCO's wore a distinct insignia, which was later worn by enlistees (värvätty). [1]
Some of the branch colors were already changed in 1937. All cavalry collar tabs had their backing and piping colors inverted due practical reasons. After this reform the backing color of all cavalry collar tabs was yellow. [2]
According to the 1939 uniform regulations, the changes were to be done on the collar tabs by 1st January 1940. [3] Although the changes to the insignia were ordered before the Winter War, they were often not applied in practice before the start of the hostilities. The older uniform articles m/22 and m/27 with their distinct rank insignia were also still in use with their own standing rank insignia regulations. [4]
The generals' collar tab piping color was unified with the other branches, this meant that the generals no longer wore golden piping and spruces on the collar. [5]
On 13th June, 1941, Field Marshal Mannerheim ordered reserve officer ranks to be discontinued and they were admitted active service ranks. The silver roses worn by reserve officers were replaced with their golden counterparts. Despite that, career officers could still be distinguished from the lion insignia worn on the epaulets, however wearing of the said insignia was discontinued in 1942. [6] On the same date the distinction between reserve NCO's and cadre NCO's was removed, however due the low availability of NCO collar tabs, the fulfillment of older regulations with rank displayed on epaulets was still allowed. [7]
One difference to the ranks moved to collar was the rank of korpraali. The rank was not displayed on the collar tab with a single chevron, but the older chevron on the epaulet. The previous NCO collar tab was incorporated for enlisted cadre personnel (värvätty mies), whilst single chevron in the collar tab signaled the rank of värvätty korpraali. [8]
The wartime realities meant that the usage of collar tabs was rather uncommon, especially among enlisted personnel. This meant that the enlisted personnel wore no collar tabs and non-commissioned officers wore their insignias as simple stripes in the epaulets. Officers often also wore their roses directly on the collar due threat of enemy snipers, similarly to the m/27 Uniform's regulations.
[9]
Branch / Unit | Collar tab backing | Collar tab piping | Hat piping | Trouser piping | Trouser piping width |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Generals | According to branch | According to branch | According to branch | According to branch | 2 |
General Staff Officers | Carmine | Grey | Carmine | Carmine | 3 |
Standard uniform | Dark green | Light grey | Dark green | Dark green | 1 |
Infantry | Dark green | Light grey | Dark green | Dark green | 1 |
Jaeger Units | Dark green | Yellow | Dark green | Dark green | 4 |
Border Guard | Dark green | Orange | Orange | Dark green | 4 |
Artillery, fortification artillery, anti-air forces | Red | Black | Red | Red | 4 |
Cavalry | Yellow | Grey | Yellow | Yellow | 4 |
Uusimaa Dragoon Regiment | Yellow | Dark blue | Yellow | Yellow | 4 |
Häme Cavalry Regiment | Yellow | Dark red | Yellow | Yellow | 4 |
Signals Squadron | Yellow | Violet | Yellow | Yellow | 4 |
Pioneer forces | Violet | Grey | Violet | Violet | 1 |
Signal forces | Violet | Yellow | Violet | Violet | 1 |
Fortification forces (1944-) | Violet | Black | Violet | Violet | 1 |
Armoured forces | Black | Orange | Orange | Black | 4 |
Anti-tank units (1944-) | Black | Orange | Orange | Black | 4 |
Field Bishop and Chaplains | Black | Grey | Black | Black | 5 |
Coastal artillery | Black | Red | Red | Red | 4 |
Aviation forces | Light blue | Black | Light blue | Light blue | 1 |
Storages | Light blue | Light grey | Light blue | Light blue | 1 |
Logistics forces | Light blue | Light grey | Light blue | Light blue | 1 |
Hospitals and Pharmacies | According to branch | According to branch | According to branch | According to branch | According to branch |
Cadets | Dark blue | Yellow | Dark blue | Dark blue | 6 |
Helsinki Garrison Band | Dark blue | Light grey | Dark blue | Dark blue | 1 |
Oulu Garrison Band | Dark red | Grey | Dark red | Dark red | 1 |