Simo Häyhä

Simo Häyhä, known as "The White Death" among Soviet soldiers, is considered the deadliest sniper in military history. Born in Rautjärvi, Finland on December 17, 1905, Häyhä lived a simple life as a farmer before the Winter War between Finland and the Soviet Union broke out in 1939.

When the Soviet Union invaded Finland, Häyhä joined the Finnish army and was stationed in the Kollaa area. During the 105-day conflict, he killed an incredible 505 Soviet soldiers with his M/28-30 Mosin-Nagant rifle - an average rate of nearly five kills per day in temperatures that could drop to -40°C.

What makes Häyhä's achievements even more impressive is that he:

• Used exclusively open sights instead of telescopic sights to avoid reflections that could reveal his position

• Often operated alone, dressed completely in white for camouflage

• Filled his mouth with snow to prevent his breath from forming visible vapor in the cold air

• Killed an additional 200 enemies with a submachine gun

On March 6, 1940, just days before the end of the war, Häyhä was hit in the jaw by an explosive bullet from a Soviet sharpshooter. The shot shattered his jaw and tore away most of his left cheek. Despite serious injuries, he survived and woke from a coma on March 13 - the same day the peace agreement between Finland and the Soviet Union was signed.

After the war, Häyhä was promoted directly from corporal to second lieutenant by Field Marshal Mannerheim - an unusually large promotion in the Finnish army. He also received several decorations for his service.

Häyhä returned to farming after the war and became an avid hunter and dog breeder. When asked how he became so good at shooting, he simply answered: "Practice." He died peacefully in 2002 at the age of 96.

Sources:

• Saarelainen, Tapio. The White Sniper: Simo Häyhä. Casemate Publishers, 2016.

• Jowett, Philip. Finland at War 1939-45. Osprey Publishing, 2006.

• The Winter War Museum, Finland

• Finnish Military Archives