"Finnish Units without Caps (Just Helmets)?" Topic

I have a few early/mid war Germans with rifles in 15mm. I know the kit is wrong, but was hoping I could paint some of them up as Finnish soldiers. At 15mm, the color scheme goes a long way to disguise things.

But I don't have any with caps – all just helmets. How unusual would it have been to have a whole Finnish platoon that had no one with field caps?

I just "googled" Finnish Infantry WWII.
Numerous photos of soldiers with all wearing helmets (though not necessarily German ones).
I suspect a lot of photos of men in hats are taken behind the front lines.

They're your troops so all is good – but I agree, at the front edge I would expect any sensible Finn with a helmet would wear one

Yep, they do serve a purpose. Unless of course it turns a bit chilly (as it can in Finland) when a woolly hat makes more sense than a chunk of steel, known for its heat conduction.

If at the front line and especially if expecting action (as is likely to be case on a gaming table), then helmets for everyone should be the order of the day. In case the weather happens to be a bit on the cooler side, there is space inside the helmet to fit a woolen cap, and the webbing inside should prevent direct contact between the wearer and cold steel. And under actual winter conditions, the helmets might be either painted white or issued with white cloth covers.

When under more relaxed conditions farther away from the front (where photos are more likely to be taken), expect the uncomfortable helmets to be stored somewhere with the rest of the kit, and more comfortable field caps to appear from pockets and backpacks. AA-gun crews might still want to keep their helmets at hand, in case of an alert.

Out on a patrol might be an interesting issue, as it is easier to be stealthy and alert without a heavy helmet in your head, and you might be less likely to encounter mortar or artillery fire, sending shrapnel all over the place.

If you insist on caps you may want to decapitate a select few figures and substitute with a Peter Pig head with cap. Peter Pig has a variety of heads with caps and other headgear available. They work really well.

I was just reading the Finnish novel, The Forgotten Soldier, and there was a passage where the troops are ordered to wear helmets while in position on the front line.