m/36 Overcoat (Päällystakki m/36)

The m/36 Overcoat is not an official item and it is not an official designation for the overcoat. It is used by collectors to distinguish it from the m/22 Overcoat. The m/36 Overcoat is essentially m/22 Overcoat with modified shoulder epaulettes that match the rest of the m/36 Uniform. The order for these changes was given at some point in 1936, but the changes were slow to take place. The m/36 Overcoats in this style begin to be more common during the Continuation War.

Along with the epaulette changes, some of the overcoats manufactured after this change were made with a collar of matching colour as the rest of the overcoat. We have yet to uncover any specific order concerning the colour, but surviving examples as well as original photographs highly support this. Some of the overcoats worn by the rank-and-file also have civilian buttons instead of the Coat-of-Arms buttons.

Apart from the design changes the rules governing the use of the overcoat are the same as with the m/22 Overcoat.

• Description in the regulations
• Photographs

Description in the regulations

Colour and material: Steelgrey overcoat wool or of diagonal wool. Grey liner.

Cut: Two rows of button, both rows have large coat-of-arms buttons (large anchor buttons in Coastal Artillery) with the lowest pair just below the waist. The backside has two pleats. The right side pleat has a vent from the waist down that has 4 small buttons for closing the vent. Officers model has 4 small coat-of-arms buttons. On the waist there is a 5 cm wide belt that is attached with two large coat-of-arms buttons at the side seams. The chest is made of two pieces on the officer's model, on others it is of one piece.

Length: The hem reaches 35 cm from the ground; in the cavalry and field artillery the hem reaches 30 cm from the ground.

Collar: Darkgrey turn down collar, roughly 12 cm wide, closes with one hook in the front. Collar can be made of the same colour as the rest of the overcoat. The lining is of the same colour. Officers are allowed to use 15cm wide detacheable fur collar during winter time. Others are forbidden from using a fur collar.

Sleeves: Full, spacious sleeves ending in a cuff. Cuffs are straight, 18 cm high, made of the same fabric as the rest of the coat and without any buttons. Officers have rank tapes sewn on the cuffs.

Pockets: Side pockets are horizontal and sewn inside the coat. The pocket covers are straight with rounded corners, no buttons or button holes. The officers coat has a leather reinforced slit inside the left pocket for the sword carrier.

Finnish Wartime Photograph Archive photos