February 4, 2008
Simo Häyhä (December 17, 1905 – April 1, 2002), nicknamed “White Death” (Russian: Белая Смерть, Belaya Smert; Finnish: Valkoinen kuolema) by the Soviet army, was a Finnish soldier, and is arguably the greatest, most successful sniper in history A daily account of the kills at Kollaa was conducted for the Finnish snipers. Häyhä used a Finnish variant, M28, of the Soviet Mosin-Nagant rifle (known as “Pystykorva” rifle), because it suited his small frame (5 ft 3 in/1.60 m). He preferred to use iron sights rather than telescopic sights to present a smaller target (the sniper must raise his head higher when using a telescopic sight) and aid concealment (sunlight glare in telescopic sight lenses can reveal a sniper’s position). Besides his sniper kills, Simo Häyhä was also credited with as many as two hundred kills with a Suomi M-31 SMG, thus bringing his credited kills to at least 705. However, the latter claim has never been substantiated. All of Häyhä’s kills were accomplished within 100 days prior to injuries caused by an enemy bullet. Häyhä’s record of an average of 5 kills a day, almost one kill per daylight hour of the short winter day, is unique.

Simo Häyhä (December 17, 1905 – April 1, 2002), nicknamed “White Death” (Russian: Белая Смерть, Belaya Smert; Finnish: Valkoinen kuolema) by the Soviet army, was a Finnish soldier, and is arguably the greatest, most successful sniper in history

A daily account of the kills at Kollaa was conducted for the Finnish snipers. Häyhä used a Finnish variant, M28, of the Soviet Mosin-Nagant rifle (known as “Pystykorva” rifle), because it suited his small frame (5 ft 3 in/1.60 m). He preferred to use iron sights rather than telescopic sights to present a smaller target (the sniper must raise his head higher when using a telescopic sight) and aid concealment (sunlight glare in telescopic sight lenses can reveal a sniper’s position).

Besides his sniper kills, Simo Häyhä was also credited with as many as two hundred kills with a Suomi M-31 SMG, thus bringing his credited kills to at least 705. However, the latter claim has never been substantiated. All of Häyhä’s kills were accomplished within 100 days prior to injuries caused by an enemy bullet. Häyhä’s record of an average of 5 kills a day, almost one kill per daylight hour of the short winter day, is unique.

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