No belt loops were fitted, as the breeches were meant to be worn with suspenders. The pants featured a high waist, button fly and adjustment tabs on the sides. These were worn by pretty much every soldier in all ranks. Finland, as has been mentioned, was heavily influenced by German uniform design and opted for breeches for the m/36 uniform. No self-respecting uniform is complete without trousers (unless of course you’re Scottish). Assessment, re-design and field trials in 1942 based on almost a year of combat use through 1940 by the entire Maavoimat would result in a new uniform that was a vast improvement over the old. Post Winter-War, the new m/43 uniform would be introduced which would be based on a detailed assessment of the performance of the m/36 in the Winter War. It should also be mentioned that despite the design improvements, the m/36 greatcoat and uniform was still not entirely comfortable in field use.

Removing the epaulettes / rank insignia removed this problem, or at least reduced it. One other reason that the rank insignias were moved from shoulder patches to the collar was that in the field the epaulettes resulted in the rucksack rings chafing. Decision made - the model 1936 Uniform (continued)

Finnish winter war uniform