Titelseiten von Hakkapeliitta-Magazinen, 1926-1929

Hakkapeliitta was a magazine of the Finnish Civil Guard, a para-military organization formed leading up to the Civil War in 1918. The Civil Guard was an influential organization in pre-WW2 Finland and Hakkapeliitta was a fairly high-production magazine. Artist Aarno Karimo was the editor-in-chief of Hakkapeliitta during the early years and many of the covers were made by him.

As an example of its content, in the 20/1926 issue (second to last image) the magazine writes about what a Soldier of the Future will look like:

>We seek combinations of colours that blend as well as possible with the environment, to hide military equipment or soldiers from hostile eyes. A snake lying still is hard to spot, as is a mottled grouse or an owl perched by a tree. All these creatures are constantly “at war” and dressed in their own form of war paint. Even the hare changes its coat as winter turns to summer, adopting a more suitable, natural camouflage. (…) To remain unseen, the soldier of the future will need a patterned uniform. It may not be a practical dress uniform, but it will be a practical field uniform. It will be invisible from the ground, even from just a dozen metres away, and from the air too.

>However, this camouflage is not enough. It provides protection from sight, but not from gas. The uniform must also be able to prevent gas from contacting the skin. In the future, gas won’t need to be inhaled to be deadly; skin contact alone will be enough to kill or at least incapacitate a soldier. For this reason, the uniform will be made of gas-tight fabric. But fabric wears out, especially when soldiers have to crawl. To prevent this, rubber patches will be added to the knees and elbows. These will also contribute to the camouflage pattern of the uniform. While crawling, these patches will help prevent harmful gas from the contaminated ground from penetrating the skin. Similarly, rubber boots and long gloves will offer additional protection.

>The soldier will still need to breathe, as no invention can replace that. He must be able to stay in gas-polluted air for hours. For this, he will have special breathing equipment. Current gas masks won’t suffice—they are neither efficient enough nor practical. The soldier of the future will have different gear. First, there will be a gas mask, normally stored inside his steel helmet, but when needed, it will be pulled down over his face with a single movement, forming a gas-tight seal with his uniform. The soldier will then be encased in an airtight shell that no gas can penetrate. However, his loose-fitting uniform will still allow fresh air to circulate. Built into the suit will be compressed air tanks and systems that allow outside air to enter while filtering out poisonous gases. With a small hand movement, he can activate these systems, but he will only use his compressed air in emergencies.

>Today’s more advanced gas protection equipment is heavy and cumbersome. The soldier of the future, however, will need to carry as little weight as possible. His equipment will be different. He will have a lightweight steel tank on his chest, which will purify the air. This tank will have different compartments for different types of gases, and the steel will also protect his chest from enemy bullets, much like his steel helmet protects his head. He will carry compressed air tanks in his backpack, with smaller tanks built into the soles of his double-layered boots.

>His food will consist of compact, highly nutritious rations. Pea soup won’t do, as it can be contaminated by poison. These rations will be stored in his backpack, but some will be kept in the inner pockets of his uniform. Even in the middle of a poison cloud, he will be able to eat if hunger strikes. His ammunition will be stored in side and back pockets of his uniform. His weapon will be a short rifle. The bullet no longer needs to have the same penetrating power as before; a small hole in the suit, just large enough to fit a finger through, will suffice, allowing gas to enter. The rifle will be a sidearm of gas warfare. Inside his helmet will be the receivers for a wireless telephone. Through this, he will receive orders and send reports. He may not be particularly pleasing to the eye, especially from a girl’s perspective, but in war, practicality is a hundred times more important than beauty.

>So, is this what the soldier of the future will be like? Perhaps. Or was it just a dream? Boys sitting at their school desks will eventually find out the answer to this question.

More magazines can be found here:

https://digi.kansalliskirjasto.fi/aikakausi/titles/fk00428?display=THUMB&year=1925

Interesting “tank” at the middle.

These are amazing. Thanks for sharing. I really like the style and typography.