Book of Curious Data #1: Simo Häyhä

At first, many people began to wonder who was the most lethal sniper in history, all this, starting back in 2014 at the release of the movie American Sniper. It told the story of Chris Kyle, a U.S. military man and sniper belonging to the SEALs, known in his country as the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history.

All - or most of them - believed that he was the spitting image of lethality when it came to flying heads. Others, on the other hand, knew that this was not true or there were more doubts, thus initiating an investigation... where they finally found a candidate with an unusual background. The story of this man unlike Chris; it didn't happen in recent times, but was during World War II, that is, more than 78 years ago.

Simon Häyhä (also known as Biélaya Smiértch; nickname given to him by the red army) was a Finnish soldier who fought in the Great Winter War which lasted 105 days between the Finnish and Soviet armies.

So far so good; Finnish soldier who fought fervently for the protection of his homeland; man who served in the position of sniper to stop the advance of the USSR in taking over his country. Any member of the armed forces of any country is entrusted with that responsibility to safeguard the security of his nation. So... What did Simon do to make him feared and considered a serious threat to the Red Army? To the point of giving him the nickname White Death (Russian-Spanish translation). Here's the answer:

According to the Top WW2 Snipers and Snipercentral site, it is awarded 505 casualties in the first portal -it is the most accepted official figure-, while in the second it is targeted with 542 casualties...

But let's take the official figure -which, although less than the second, is just as surprising. All this, during the Winter War that occurred from November 30, 1939 to March 12, 1940. He was not a soldier of the USSR or of National Socialist Germany; he was a Finnish man who caused terror to his enemies to the point that those who led the offensive sent him multiple attackers (snipers, large groups of soldiers, etc.), but let's go by parts.

Häyhä was born on the border between Finland and Russia (Farm Centre, Rautajärvi) in 1905, specifically on 17 December. From a very young age, he worked as a hunter and farmer until he entered compulsory military service in 1925. As a bonus, after completing his military service for a year, Häyhä had decided to join a military organization known as the Finnish Civil Guard.

During his time in the Guardia Civil, he trained as a sniper, using a Russian-made rifle; the Mosin Nagant Bolt-action M91. Then he decided to improve his arsenal, using the weapon that would recognize him, the M28/30 rifle.

He was called to serve the army again in the 6th Company JR34 which was established in the Kolla River. The latter faced the 9th and the 14th Soviet Army. The incredible thing about it is that in less than 100 days I had accomplished this great feat, that is, I had an average of five casualties per day... In the winter season! Where temperatures ranged from -40° to -20°C.

Häyhä camouflaged himself in white clothes to join the snow. In addition to taking care of his rifle, he only took one food supplement and one ammunition cartridge. Not only that, he preferred to use iron sights instead of telescopic sights to become a smaller target for his enemies, because the telescopic sight could tell on him (reflection of the sun; better perception by the cold).

The Soviets wanted him dead, his troops had lowered their morale and sowed fear. They sent their snipers to hunt him down, but none of them succeeded until some time later. Exactly on March 6, 1940.

The Soviet artillery began to fire towards Häyhä's position which, for their luck, they gave him; leaving him unconscious, followed by falling into a coma and waking up the day the war ended. The wound from the explosion cost him dearly: His jaw was crushed and his left cheek ripped off. It took him a long time to recover from that fateful physiological consequence caused by those who wanted to kill him, time passed... He recovered and returned to his old life; a hunter, but he also became a dog breeder.

Here's a documentary video that talks a little more about him.

He spent his last years of life in Ruokolahti, a small town in southeastern Finland near the Russian border. He lived to be 96 years old.

What can I write as a personal detail? An incredible story; grew up on a farm; enlisted in his country's FAA; trained as a sniper; dazzled in the Great War with 505 casualties and dropping the morale of enemy forces; was wounded and woke up when it was over; returned to everyday life and lived quietly until his last days. Fascinating story.