Swiss Wool Uniforms

Starting in 1914, the Swiss Army has issued a number of uniforms in their distinctive grey-blue wool. Where, traditionally, the wool uniforms were to be used for all purposes, the camouflaged KafAz (Kampfanzug) began to supersede them for field use from the 1960s onwards. 

Ord. 49

The pattern shown here, the Ordonnanz 1949, was adopted, as the name may suggest, in 1949. Consisting of a shirt and tie with open-collared tunic, side cap or kepi and trousers, the uniform was worn with the standard Swiss Army Ordonnanzschühe (~military shoes). 

Although similar in form to other versions of the Dress B, the Ord. 49 can be most easily identified by its four flat buttons down the front (with the Ord. 72 having rounded buttons and the Ord. 95 having three buttons down the front, and a lower collar line).  The side cap, likewise, should be made from the same rough wool with a flat button.  

Issued uniforms were made from rough wool, although examples made from finer wool do exist. These were tailor-made for officers to wear as Tenue A. The jacket features a pair of metal hooks at the waist, which support the belt and bayonet frog, along with ammunition pouches, where issued. 

The uniform is worn with a classic Swiss 'ceinturon' belt, where the extra length tucks inside the main loop. Onto this is attached the frog for an M57 bayonet, which should be worn over the hook at the side of the jacket, but is not in this set of photographs - these will be updated in due course. A small satchel for carrying military manuals can be worn across the body, over the left shoulder, although this is not normally seen on troops lower than the rank of Corporal (Korporal/Caporal), other than those who were members of Army Bands.

The weapon carried here is the SIG (Schweizerische Industrie-Gesellschaft) SG-510, or Sturmgewehr 57. The insignia on the uniform mark this out as a Private Soldier in the Logistics Corps, who has specialised as an armourer. The shoulder tabs (Achselschlaufen) indicate the battalion, company and corps to which the soldier belongs. The Achselschlaufen seen here are likely not original to the uniform, as they are from the Infantry Troops, yet the collar tabs are those of the Material Troops.

Ord. 40/49

As well as making Ord. 49 uniforms from scratch, the Swiss Army also converted and reissued existing stocks of Ord. 40 uniforms. The conversion was relatively simple, involving ironing the collar to keep it open (assisted by the collar buttons added to post-1943 Ord. 40 uniforms) and adding Ord. 49 insignia. 

Ord. 72

With the recognition of the fact that woollen uniforms were not likely to be used in the field any longer, the improved version adopted in 1972 featured a number of improvements to make it more comfortable and practical as a service uniform. This, the Ordonnanz 1972 (Ord. 72 for short) largely followed the form of its predecessor (Ord. 49), but with slightly different buttons (round instead of flat) and the addition of a viscose lining. The jacket pockets were also moved around the body, but this can be hard to make out without having examples of both to compare side-by-side.

The trousers were also simplified, with the button-adjustable ankle cuff being deleted and replaced by a simple hem. The waistline also received a viscose band.

The Ord. 72 Schiffli also retained the general form of the Ord. 49, with the exception of the button, which was changed to the same rounded design as on the jacket.

Although sizes were initially stamped directly onto the inside of the wool, as had been done with previous uniforms, later revisions would also see the addition of separate size labels.

All photos Copyright ©Walter of the London Living History Group.