Winter war/Soviet - Finnish War/ talvisota

[Gunbird]

The images aren't displaying comrade, even when you click on the link.

No issues on my end? Unless it is already fixed, it could be an issue on your end.

[carlos marighela]

Ah! They are now. Whatever was happening at my end has sorted itself.  Very nice indeed! 


One quibble though. I thought the ushanka was introduced after the Winter War and as a direct result of experiences there? Shouldn't everyone be wearing either budenovkas or steel helmets?

[Khmorg]

In this war there were ushanka hats, but they were somewhat specific. Many photos show soldiers wearing ushanka hats

[Freddy]

The images aren't displaying comrade, even when you click on the link.

For me it is ok.
And they are great sculpts!

[carlos marighela]

In this war there were ushanka hats, but they were somewhat specific. Many photos show soldiers wearing ushanka hats

Fair enough then. Not seen those photos before.

[Khmorg]

http://www.rkka.ru/uniform/terms/finka_nkvd.htm

The ushanka hat in the Red Army during the Soviet-Finnish war is a "Finka hat". It had no fur on top. In general, winter in Finland did not have very low temperatures. What happened in 1939-1940 is an anomaly.











<a target='_blank' href='https://ru.imgbb.com/'>хранение скриншотов[/url]

[cuprum]

The main winter headgear for personnel of all branches of the Red Army was the winter cloth helmet - "budenovka". The Soviet-Finnish War showed its absolute unsuitability in severe frosts. Having learned that the Red Army soldiers were freezing in the Karelian forests, Stalin gave orders to Leningrad enterprises to urgently provide soldiers with earflaps - they were sent to military units with the wording "for experimental testing". The hats were made according to the model of winter headgear of the Soviet Navy. There, the earflaps were the only winter headgear since 1934 and it was black. The hat for the ground army was made of greatcoat cloth, lined with cotton wool. Initially, the band, consisting of a visor and a back piece with earflaps tied with a braid, was trimmed with tsigey sheepskin. The sheared fur, 12-14 mm long, was also dyed grey. Although, apparently, black hats from naval warehouses were also sent to the army - but this is only an assumption.

[Freddy]

The main winter headgear for personnel of all branches of the Red Army was the winter cloth helmet - "budenovka". The Soviet-Finnish War showed its absolute unsuitability in severe frosts. Having learned that the Red Army soldiers were freezing in the Karelian forests, Stalin gave orders to Leningrad enterprises to urgently provide soldiers with earflaps - they were sent to military units with the wording "for experimental testing". The hats were made according to the model of winter headgear of the Soviet Navy. There, the earflaps were the only winter headgear since 1934 and it was black. The hat for the ground army was made of greatcoat cloth, lined with cotton wool. Initially, the band, consisting of a visor and a back piece with earflaps tied with a braid, was trimmed with tsigey sheepskin. The sheared fur, 12-14 mm long, was also dyed grey. Although, apparently, black hats from naval warehouses were also sent to the army - but this is only an assumption.

During ww1 and in previous wars Russians had various fur hats which were suitable for the cold, the important new design feature of the ear-flapped ushanka hat was to fit under the steel helmet so that the soldiers do not need to lose head protection in order to dress warmly. It can be seen it in the last picture in Khmorgs last comment.

[cuprum]

In fact, this is a somewhat far-fetched problem. To wear a steel helmet in a soldier's uniform, there was a woolen knitted balaclava. But its heat-protective properties turned out to be insufficient in Finnish frost conditions.
Although, as you can see (the first soldier in the photo), if desired, they could also wear a helmet on their Budyonnovka.





In addition, in 1931, the Red Army introduced a fur "Finka hat". The hat was permitted for wearing (i.e. was purchased and worn at will) when wearing a bekeshi (a short fur coat). And although the hat was not officially intended for the rank and file, knowing the Soviet army traditions, I can say that such a hat was probably purchased at their own expense by long-term servicemen (i.e. military personnel of the lower ranks, who are on permanent military service, and not by conscription). This is not exactly an ushanka, but a fairly warm headdress and is often seen in photos from the Soviet-Finnish and Great Patriotic Wars.

[carlos marighela]

Interesting thread. Glad to have my understanding updated re the use of the ushanka. That said, for the Winter War the budenoka/ and or helmet thing seems to be the iconic image. To the best of my knowledge nobody has really done that look in 28mm before, so this would be a really welcome range.

The greatcoated chaps in budenovka would probably also make suitable figures for the latter parts of the 1929 Sino-Soviet conflict and this appeal to the Back of Beyond players out there.

[cuprum]

Finding suitable figures for the 1929 conflict is not a problem. At that time, the Far Eastern Military District of the USSR continued to use papakhas of the 1910 model. So, by removing the shoulder straps from the soldiers of the Imperial Army, you will get quite authentic Red Army fighters.

[carlos marighela]

I have a ushanka but mine is a Cold War era model in 'fish fur'. 

Did the border guards have the same cold weather headgear as the army in 1939?

[cuprum]

The border guards did not have any special differences in clothing from other armed forces. But they had warm clothes in greater quantities: sheepskin coats, felt boots (valenki), wadded suits. As well as camouflage coats, dog and reindeer sleds and similar things that made service in this region easier.

[Khmorg]