Say Hello to “White Death” Simo Häyhä The Deadliest Sniper In History

Simo Häyhä, after the war. His face was scarred by his wartime injury.

Simo Häyhä, also known as “The White Death,” stands as one of the most legendary snipers in history. His legacy, forged during the Winter War between Finland and the Soviet Union (1939-1940), showcases extraordinary skill, resilience, and a deep commitment to his homeland. 

Häyhä is believed to have killed over 500 enemy soldiers during the conflict, the highest number of sniper kills in any major war. Consequently, he is often regarded as the deadliest sniper in history.

Häyhä and his new rifle, a gift from the Finish army.

At a mere five feet in height, the unassuming Häyhä was anything but imposing and could easily go unnoticed, a quality that may have contributed to his skill in sniping.

Born on December 17, 1905, in Rautjärvi, Finland, Häyhä grew up in a rural environment where hunting was both a necessity and a way of life. This early exposure to firearms and the natural environment was pivotal in shaping his skills. As a young boy, Simo spent countless hours honing his shooting abilities, primarily through hunting small game. This practical experience was further augmented by his participation in shooting competitions, where he gained recognition for his exceptional accuracy and calm demeanor.

Häyhä’s military career began in 1925 when he joined the Finnish voluntary militia, the White Guard. Here, his talents were refined through rigorous training. His dedication and natural aptitude for sharpshooting were evident, setting the stage for his future role in the Winter War.

During the 1939–40 Winter War between Finland and the Soviet Union, Häyhä was a sniper in the Finnish Army, under the command of Lieutenant Aarne Juutilainen in the 6th Company of Infantry Regiment 34. The harsh temperatures ranged between −40 and −20 °C (−40 and −4 °F). Häyhä wore complete white camouflage gear, while the Soviet soldiers lacked camouflage uniforms, making them easy targets in the snowy conditions. Joseph Stalin had eliminated many military experts during the late 1930s in the Great Purge, leading to significant disorganisation within the Red Army.

Finnish snipers hiding behind snowbanks in a fox hole.

Häyhä utilised his issued Civil Guard rifle, an early series SAKO M/28-30. He also favoured iron sights instead of telescopic sights, as they allow a sniper to present a smaller target for the enemy (a sniper needs to raise their head a few centimeters higher when using a telescopic sight) and are dependable even in extreme cold, unlike telescopic sights that tend to fog up in cold weather. Another drawback of telescopic sights is that sunlight can reflect off the lenses, exposing the sniper's position. Häyhä lacked experience with scoped rifles and thus chose not to switch to the Soviet scoped rifle.

To combat the severe cold, Häyhä dressed appropriately in multiple layers of clothing. He carried sugar and bread in his pockets, consuming them for the necessary calories to stay warm. His small stature of 160 centimeters (5 ft 3 in) helped him conceal his position. Hidden in a snow pit, he could remain still and observe the enemy for extended periods. Häyhä's routine involved moving to the prepared position well before dawn and staying there until after sunset. He often piled compact snow in front of his position to hide himself, cushion his rifle, and minimize the telltale puff of snow caused by the muzzle blast. He would even hold snow in his mouth while sniping to prevent his breath in the cold air from revealing his location.

All of Häyhä's kills were accomplished in less than 100 days, an average of five per day at a time of year with very few daylight hours. His kill count as a sniper was based on his own reporting, with the confirmation of his comrades, and only those who were verified to be dead were counted. No count was taken when several snipers shot at the same target. Enemy soldiers killed with a submachine gun with Häyhä as a group leader were not counted.

Häyhä's division commander Antero Svensson credited him with 219 confirmed kills with a rifle and an equal number of kills by submachine gun, when he awarded Häyhä with an honorary rifle on 17 February 1940. On 21 December 1939, Häyhä achieved his highest daily count of 25 kills. In his diary, military chaplain Antti Rantamaa reported 259 confirmed kills made by rifle and an equal number of kills by submachine gun from the beginning of the war until 7 March 1940, one day after Häyhä was severely wounded.

On 6 March 1940, Häyhä was wounded after an explosive bullet fired by a Red Army soldier hit his lower left jaw. After the battle, as he appeared to be dead, he was placed on a pile of dead bodies.

Rumours of Häyhä's death spread around in Finland and the Soviet Union. He regained consciousness a week later on 13 March, the day that peace was declared. He read about his own death in a newspaper, and sent a letter to the paper to correct the misunderstanding.

The Russian trenches were full of Simo Häyhä’s enemies — and it was only a matter of time before he was caught.

According to a Finnish Army document, Häyhä's confirmed kills during the Winter War were documented as follows:

• 22nd December 1939: 138 sniper kills in 22 days

• 26th January 1940: 199 sniper kills (61 in 35 days)

• 17th February 1940: 219 sniper kills (20 in 22 days)

• 7th March 1940 (a day after being wounded): a total of 259 sniper kills (40 in 18 days)

Although Häyhä never publicly disclosed this information, his personal memoir, uncovered in 2017, reveals that he estimated his total number of kills to be approximately 500, referring to it as his "sin list".

It took several years for Häyhä to recuperate from his wound which required lengthy treatments and several surgeries. Although his face remained disfigured, he otherwise made a full recovery. After World War II, he was given a farm in Valkjärvi a small municipality located in southeastern Finland near the Russian border. He became a successful moose hunter and dog breeder. In addition to farming, he enjoyed hunting, and his hunting parties over the years included the President of Finland.

Nevertheless, his actions during the Winter War faced disapproval from some individuals, leading to hate and even death threats. The scars he bore from the war were visible on his face, causing him to avoid large gatherings due to his fame. He chose to live a solitary life as a bachelor, finding solace in his work despite battling loneliness and fear, with nights being particularly challenging. Despite this, he sought comfort in the company of friends and occasionally visited his parents' and siblings' homes post-war. As farm work became too strenuous, he decided to rent out his farm and relocate to an apartment in the heart of Ruokolahti.

Known for his humility, Häyhä refrained from boasting about his wartime achievements and seldom discussed his war experiences. When questioned in 1998 about his exceptional sniping skills, he simply attributed it to "practice." In an interview with Helsingin Sanomat on Independence Day in December 2001, just before his 96th birthday, Häyhä finally opened up about his wartime encounters. When asked if he felt remorse for the numerous lives he had taken, his response was,

"I did what I was told, as well as I could. There would be no Finland unless everyone had done the same."

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Sources

• Laqueur, Walter. “Simo Häyhä: The White Death.” Military History Quarterly, vol. 32, no. 4, 2020, pp. 54-67.

• Värri, Seppo. The Sniper’s Tale: Simo Häyhä and the Winter War. Helsinki: Otava Publishing, 2018.

• “Simo Häyhä: The White Death.” Finnish Military Archives, accessed June 2024.

• Ryhänen, Pertti. “In the Crosshairs: An Analysis of Simo Häyhä’s Sniping Techniques.” Journal of Historical Warfare, vol. 45, no. 2, 2019, pp. 210-225.