Landstormen - The Home Guard

In the end of the 19th century Landstormen (the Home Guard) was created as a local defense force. From the beginning all males in the age group 27 to 32 years old was part of it, but in 1914 the upper limit was raised to 42 years of age.

When World War One started the Landstorm was mobilized to guard the borders and coasts. Until this time the uniform was civilian clothes with a tricorn hat (just like the one in the army) and a armband. But now it was obvious that it was not enough so during the war the Landstorm was also equipped with the grey m/10 uniform. The m/10 uniform was used until 1939 when they got the new m/39 uniform.

Later they also got the m/21 helmet and the m/26 hat. The hat was identical to the army's m/23 hat, except that their's was grey.

The Home Guard mostly used the army’s m/96 rifle, but also the older m/67 rifle.

Landstormen was badly organized and trained. Except for five days, training was largely voluntary.

Here is some pictures of the Home Guard in 1914.

 

The Swedish Platoon from 1921-1937

Each platoon was made up of four squads. Each squad had 12 men, eleven with rifles and one with a light machine gun called kg mg/21. It was based on the american BAR 1918. In 1937 it was up-graded and the new model was called kg m/37.
The squad was lead by a Sergeant and he was assisted by a Corporal. The platoon was lead by an Lieutenant and he was assisted by an Sergeant. The Lieutenant also had two runners.
A platoon is made up of 52 persons. One Lieutenant, five Sergeants, four Corporals, two runners, four machine gunners and 36 riflemen.