Here we have an amazing piece of Finnish Suojeluskuna / Lotta Svärd history. This is a matching set of Lotta Svärd Winter Cap and Jacket from the Mikkeli  region with the early war yellow and black colors. This was the headquarters region and Mikkeli later changed their colors in 1941 to solid blue to designate National Headquarters. It remained that way until the end of the war in 1944. The earlier colors were continued to be worn during this time, but were less prevalent than the blue. What makes this set so very rare is that unlike the Suojeluskunta tunics, the Lotta jacket did not look exclusively military or paramilitary. For that reason, after the Civil guard and the Lotta Svärd organizations were disbanded, as per the peace treaty with Russia 1944, the Lotta Svärd ladies simply removed their patches from the jackets. Times were tough and they still needed a good winter coat. Unlike the Sk.Y tunics which were forbidden to even hang on the line outside your house…. The ladies jackets became simply that….. a jacket for everyday use. After all they were privately purchased from the Civil Guard “SKOHA” store by the individual members and they were needed post war for day to day life. They were worn for many years until almost all were worn-out and discarded. This jacket has many things that make it unbelievably rare. First it retains its Mikkeli original patch on the arm. Also it retains its wartime and before name tag inside. It belonged to “Sirkka” and shows both her maiden and married names as well as her originally being from Helsinki before transferring to Mikkeli at sometime. This was most likely before or during the Winter War 1939-1940 as shown by her early Mikkeli  yellow /black-insignia. Also extremely rare is that the jacket retains is original SKOHA tag showing it as an original official Lotta uniform purchased in the Skoha Oy.  store as well as the original Yhtyneet Pukutehtaat Oy. of Tampere, Finland makers tag. If a worn out jacket survives from this time period (which are not many),  they almost never retain this. Lastly, and most importantly is the overall untouched original condition. This jacket is a museum piece and has been protected and climate controlled. The liner is completely intact and beautiful. The jacket shell is also in amazing, not messed with condition just like stepping back in time. Even most of the original leather covers the buckles. The exterior belt is present. It is just not possible to find a better example anywhere. The cap itself is the correct insulated winter variety with its matching early yellow and black cockade. It is in amazing condition and the liner is as well with all the stitching tight and intact….The original makers label is present for O.Y. Suomen Sotilaspukimo “Finnish Soldiers Uniform Company” Helsinki, Finland.  The cockade is in beautiful condition with no damage to the enamel. This is a irreplaceable slice of the overwhelmingly important story of the Lotta Svärd ladies auxiliary organization and the powerful impact they had in helping to save Finland from 1918-1944. Without their contributions in both lives and effort,  Finland would have surely perished. This cannot be overstated.