Danish Army uniforms 1945-2008

by Henrik Clausen, Copyright 2008

Two soldiers from The Royal Life Guard wearing desert uniform and standard M/84 uniform.

Introduction The uniforms of the Danish Army have undergone a dramatic change during the 50+ years since the end of WW2 and the liberation of Denmark. During most of the period the main operational task of the Danish Army was the defence of Denmark in cooperation with the other armies of NATO. But this has changed in recent years with the end of the Cold War and the engagement in a number of international operations both typical UN missions as well as combat missions, like Danish soldiers fighting the Taleban i Afghanistan. I will in the following focus on the combat uniforms of the period.

1945-1958 There was a huge stock of uniforms etc. at the end of WW2. So the first combat uniform of the Danish Army in 1945 was the British battledress designated Feltuniform M/44 (field uniform model 1944) by the Danish Army. It was the typical battledress worn by the British forces during WW2 some of it were supplied by the British, some were purchased by the Danish Army and some came from Sweden together with the Danish Brigade (a unit equipped and trained in Sweden by the Swedish government it was supposed to take part in the liberation of Denmark in the event of the German forces in Denmark would not willingly surrender which they did). These different sources of the uniform meant that there was some difference in colours etc.
Feltuniform M/44 the look of a Danish soldier shortly after WW2

1958-1984 The Kampuniform M/58 (combat uniform model 1958) was introduced in 1958. It was a more modern uniform like the American M65. The first model was khaki in colour and did not have shoulder straps. The second model from 1961 was olive green and had shoulder straps. The latter was used until the introduction of the Machine gunner wearing M/58 uniform and M/62 machine gun M/84 in camouflage (the German MG3) pattern. There was also a Tjenesteuniform M/66 (service dress model 1966) used for garrison duty - and a Tjenesteuniform M/69 ("service dress model 1969") for parade and walking out use.

The M/58 combat uniform was in some ways not satisfactory and was not up to modern standards, so some soldiers did privately purchase uniforms (eg. the American M65).

1984-today A more modern combat uniform was needed. The Danish Army developed a test uniform (Testuniform T/78) in a camouflage pattern and with a new design of jacket and trousers. This uniform was used in a troop test. As a result of these tests a number of modifications were made. This uniform was then introduced to the first units in 1984-85 and gradually it replaced the M/58 combat uniform.
Soldier wearing M/84 combat uniform along with the old LBE. He is armed with the M/95 Diemaco C7 rifle

The M/84 is a whole system of different garments: shirts, thermo vests etc. The camouflage pattern of the M/84 is copyrighted by the Danish Army hence it can be very hard to obtain this material by collectors. There is, however, copies made of the pattern and even a snow pattern (to my knowledge not used in the Danish Army) has been made by a commercial company. The pattern itself is based on the German 5colour camouflage which was tested by the Danish Army, but they found that only three colours would be more suitable for Danish conditions.

Danish troops in Afghanistan wearing M/01 desert uniforms prepare themselves for patrol. February 2008. Foto: Per A. Rasmussen. Hrens Operative Kommando. http://www.hok.dk

Other uniforms and garments There is a large number of garments etc. made of the M/84 camouflage material rain coats, a small bag for the soldiers hygienic articles (toothpaste, soap etc.), a scarf etc. etc. A NBC suit has also been made in this pattern. In 2001 a Danish contingent were sent to Eritrea as a part of the UN peacekeeping force between Ethiopia and Eritrea. These soldiers were issued with a special desert camouflage uniform the pattern is similar to the M/84 camouflage, but in desert colours (tan, brown and green). This uniform was also issued to Danish troops deployed in Iraq and is also worn by Danish troops in Afghanistan.
Soldiers wearing M/84 uniforms, M/48 (M1) steel helmets and the old LBE.

Helmets and flak jackets In the first years after WW2 the Danish soldiers wore British surplus helmets, but in 1948 the American M1 helmet (designated M/48 in Denmark) was introduced. This was the standard combat head gear of the Danish soldier until 1992 when the first

troops were sent to the former Yugoslavia as part of the UNPROFOR peacekeeping force. The Army made a quick decision and bought kevlar helmets produced by Schuberth of Germany and flak jackets. The flak jackets were of course made in the Danish M/84 pattern camouflage... The Schuberth kevlar helmet was only used by the troops sent abroad. The soldiers back in Denmark were still using the WW2 vintage steel pot. This changed, however, when the Army bought a large quantity of the French produced CGF Gallet kevlar helmet which is by now the standard combat headgear of the Danish soldiers.
Danish UN soldier in ex-Yugoslavia 1992 wearing Schuberth 826 helmet and flak jacket. His weapon is the 7.62 mm M/75 rifle (the German H&K G3)

Load bearing equipment Until 1996 the Danish Army used a load bearing equipment based on the WW2-vintage British system. But a new system - based on

the current British LBE system has been introduced, including rucksacks in M/84 pattern camouflage.
Members of the Home Guard wearing M/96 LBE (based on the LBE used by the British Army)

National insignia The M/59 and M/84 combat uniforms had a tag on the shoulder with the word "DANMARK" written on it and the shield in the red/white Danish colours were

only worn by soldiers on international duties (in NATO HQs or UN service). This shield has now been replaced by a Danish flag worn by all soldiers. Cap badges The normal headgear of the Danish soldiers is the beret. It comes in a number of colours depending on the military branch of the soldier: black for infantry and armour, green for signals, artillery, Home Guard, logistics, light blue for army aviation, red for military police and dark red for Jaegerkorpset (special forces). The insignia of the unit of the regiment is worn on the beret. Rank badges Rank badges are worn on the shoulder straps. The NBC suit and flak jacket has a strap on the front for the rank badge. Professional soldiers wear bars - the number of bars depends on the length of their service. Sergeants wear chevrons and officers stars.

Rank badges worn by Danish troops. Top row from left: private first class, lance corporal, conscript sergeant, professional sergeant, master sergeant. Bottom row from left: lieutenant, 1st lieutenant, captain, major, colonel.

Unit insignia Almost every unit has its own insignia and usually wear it on their upper sleeve. But practise may vary. Some soldiers wear the badge of the parent unit - eg. the International Brigade - on one shoulder and their unit badge on the other. There is a traditional colour system, which may sometimes be used in badges etc.: Red for the 1st unit, white for the 2nd, blue for the 3rd and yellow for the 4th.

Different badges that have been worn by Danish Army soldiers

Conclusion The period from 1945 until today has seen the change of the Danish Army from a WW2-vintage army to an army equipped with modern equipment (armed with Canadian-built M16-rifles) and uniforms. During the Cold War the main task of the Army was to prepare for fightning a war with the Warsaw Pact forces. But today the main task is - if not officially then in reality - the participation in UN and other international missions and operations. This has led to a change in the way the Army is equipped.

Danish Army tropical uniforms with lots of practical details. Made in the standard M/84 pattern but in rip-stop cloth.