Happy Unknown

Closing out our Don Whitman-WPG domestic series with 

a happy looking unknown model atop a bedroom dresser.

 

Finns in the Continuation War

There are parallels between the Finnish and Ukrainian resistance to Russian aggression.  

In the Winter War of 1939-40, the Finns gave the Red Army a bloody nose.  The Finns 

became the unlikely allies of the Germans in the Continuation War of 1941-44.  Despite the loss 

of over 10% of its territory, Finland remained independent and neutral . . . until the current 

Russian aggression in Ukraine caused them to apply for membership in NATO, that is.  

We start our Finn show with a sauna shot.

 

Newsreel for the folks back home

While the great majority of World War II newsreels were silent with narration and/or music overdubbed later, the Germans developed a portable sound movie system that they shared with the Finns.  The microphone is the giveaway, as it is regularly seen in Die Deutsche Wochenshau reels.

 

Cavalry or draft horse?

July, 1943 was when this "recruit in training" was photographed taking his horse for a swim.  I initially thought that the horse was a draft animal used for pulling wagons and sledges, but now I'm not so sure.  Mr. Google told me that the Finns had two elite cavalry brigades that were among their finest units of the war.  No, they didn't charge the Russians on horseback.  They used their mounts for deft mobility through the forests and dismounted to do the actual fighting.  Here's another photo:

 

Sauna entry

These G-rated fellows are entering a bunker sauna, something that has a hallmark of the near front line Finnish positions during the Continuation War.  Despite the sometimes dire circumstances, they managed to get their sauna time in.  Gotta love those Finns.

 

Two were bashful

This is one of the largest posed groups of nude Finnish troops that I've seen,

and two of them seem to have been more modest than the rest.

 

Not quite nude

Between the birch branch, soap suds, and some strategic positioning, the packages in this photo are at least marginally obscured.  I have posted other photos of this group where they weren't shy at all. FWIW, I find the five guys in the front two rows to be charming and lovable.

 

Weigh-in

Despite being in a life and death struggle for their nation, the Finnish Army managed to provide saunas and recreational opportunities for the troops.  This image has been identified as a weigh-in for a boxing competition held in 1943.  You have to look closely, but there's a money shot there.

 

Coverup

The Finns have historically been so casual about nudity that it is relatively unusual to find an SA-Kuva photograph where they have taken measures to cover up as they did here.

 

Showoff?

While we might well wish for more clarity in this trio shot, the guy at left appears to have arranged himself to show off his package.  Was it intentional?  If so, it wouldn't that rare among Finns.

Also, these guys look wet from swimming . . . or a very sweaty sauna.

 

Nordic

These two very Nordic looking Finns with some horses appear to have been photographed 

at the same location as the fellow who appeared nude on a horse earlier in today's series.

 

Hairy Guys, Part 1 - The Usual

Today we venture into the always popular area of hairy men for a double feature with the first half being some typical material.  Mr. Scumbeast called this one "fur and away" and never posted it in his feed for some reason.  It's also off the scale on the bush factor, as if I needed to tell you.

 

Unknown

I feel like I should know this model, but I don't.

 

Posing strap duo

I can't tell if this is Bob Mizer or Chuck Renslow material, but I'm sure someone will let us know.

 

Lighting

Although some might complain that a key element is under-represented here,

I find the photo exquisite.  Model and photographer unknown, to me anyway.

 

Bulldog

Closing out the furst half of our double feature with a bulldog low hanger combo.  You're welcome.

 

Hairy Guys, Part 2 - Soviet Era Men on the Beach

I found this group of photos on an resale website, and they are supposed to be Soviet era vacationers.  I think that would place the locations at Black Sea resorts, and we start a guy who looks Russian.  He's also the least hairy of the lot, so that factor gets better from here on.

 

Off center

This picture looks a little off center, but maybe the

 photographer was trying to show the nice water.

 

Joe Cool

This might have passed for Joe Cool at a Black Sea resort.

 

1969

The group of photos of holiday makers had very little

 information, but this one did have a date, 1969.