Finnish Mugshots from the 1920s and 1930s

[Mangrove]

National Archives of Finland has digitised hundreds mugshots collected by Finnish secret police Etsivä keskuspoliisi (literally "Detective Central Police") during the late 1920s and early 1930s. The ones photographed by the police have an identification board with the year marked with the last two numerals (29 = 1929, 30 = 1930 etc.).

You can browse through the collection using the EDELLINEN (previous) and SEURAAVA (next) links on the top. You may download a high-resolution photograph using the TALLENNA KUVA link.

Mugshot book containing photographs from 1928 and 1929
Mugshot book containing photographs from 1930 and 1931

 

[Julian Shellhammer]

National Archives of Finland has digitised hundreds mugshots collected by Finnish secret police Etsivä keskuspoliisi (literally "Detective Central Police") during the late 1920s and early 1930s. The ones photographed by the police have an identification board with the year marked with the last two numerals (29 = 1929, 30 = 1930 etc.).

You can browse through the collection using the EDELLINEN (previous) and SEURAAVA (next) links on the top. You may download a high-resolution photograph using the TALLENNA KUVA link.

Mugshot book containing photographs from 1928 and 1929
Mugshot book containing photographs from 1930 and 1931

Interestingly, each sequence includes one portrait while wearing a hat. Is this since hat-wearing was was so wide-spread that this shot was included as a reference in case you ran into them on the street?

 

[Deleted member 16736]

Several "thugs" are wearing the same uniform: wool turtleneck under a single or double-breasted blazer with wool newsboy cap. I don't know if they're part of the same gang or what, but it's a good look.

 

[Mangrove]

Is this since hat-wearing was was so wide-spread that this shot was included as a reference in case you ran into them on the street?

I would think the third photograph was taken so that the detectives could compare existing or future street photographs against the stock photograph.

Several "thugs" are wearing the same uniform: wool turtleneck under a single or double-breasted blazer with wool newsboy cap. I don't know if they're part of the same gang or what, but it's a good look.

One of the main task of EK's was to monitor suspected and known members of the banned Communist Party of Finland. It is possible that the style was quite common among them and workers in general.

 

[Metatron]

The lack of tie wearers is noteworthy.
Even the scruffiest in the Australian mugshot archive wear ties.

 

[nightandthecity]

The lack of tie wearers is noteworthy.
Even the scruffiest in the Australian mugshot archive wear ties.

straight neck or roll neck nautical style pullovers under a suit jacket with a flat cap was a popular look among dissident working class youth in Britain and France in the 1930s. They were typically worn tucked into the trousers with a belt not braces. Check out Chevalier as an Apache here, from about 1.50 onwards...... or cut straight to the song at about 2.50....."I wear a sweater when you wear a collar and tie....why not?"

 

[Metatron]

Thanks for sharing!
It looks good, personally I don't like the way rollnecks feel, too stuffy, especially indoors!

 

[AdeeC]

4962 and 4965 look like the same guy several years apart or perhaps they are brothers?