White Death: The World’s Deadliest Sniper

A lone rifleman strikes fear into the hearts of the 750,000 invading Russians. The Finns should have been terrified, but the Finnish had something that the Russians didn’t, a humble farmer-turned-sniper named Simo Häyhä.

He pulled his old gun out of storage and waited for the Soviets. The Winter War lasted roughly 100 days, in that time, Häyhä eliminated 505 soldiers, an average of over 5 a day.

The Soviets gave him the name ‘White Death’ and he became the deadliest sniper in history.

Thanks to our friend Staffan for providing the Finnish voices in this film!

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[jdtrbxv]

Soviet Soldier: *sneezes*
Snow: “Bless you”
Soviet Soldier: “Thanks”

[ordelian]

One key reason to Simo's efficiency with his rifle was the fact it was HIS rifle. He used it to hunt, target practice, etc. He knew exactly where his sights had to be for each shot.

[GimidaYamato]

Soviets: “We'll be invading Finland”

Häyha: “Reality can be disappointing”

[beetledesert]

A wise man once said: “if you heard the shot, then it wasnt for you”

[thestablishmentblues]

My grandfather fought in the winter wars as a machine gunner. His actions influenced me to join the Australian infantry.
I miss you Pappa. :(

[khumonmhe]

Enemy: let's push him he's just a sniper

The Sniper:

[petrhanke]

Imagine being scared of your foe so hard that you assign one of your artillery units just for the desperate chance of simply hitting him by any means.

[axyy]

Ussr: we have 360000 soldiers tanks and artillery.

Finland: we have 10 mad farmers on skis

[ShortHax]

Everyone gangsta until Simo pulls out his sniper, adds to his record KD, and Finishes the job. I’ll be leaving now

[josephstalin]

Simo doesn’t kill anyone. He just finnishes them

[hippie]

Hitler: “Wanna hear a joke?”
Stalin: “What is it?”
Hitler: “Finland”
Stalin: “I don't get it”
Hitler: “Wunderbar”

[Saunakiuas]

I love the detail when Simo twitches his leg. For you see, officer who notices it yells: "Elossa! Lääkintäpaikalle!" Which is finnish and means: "Alive! To medical tent/area."

Great detail:)

[josephstalin]

Soviet soldier:
“I fear no man-
but that thing”
*Points to snow *
“It terrifies me”

[kilotun]

What I love about the Fins, aside from their formidable hockey skills, is their snark. Some examples:

On the Winter War:
Fins Lament - "The Soviets are so many and our country so small, where will we find room to bury them all?"

On the Third Reich:
Nazi Officer - "If there were fifty million Fins, we would share the world with you"
Finnish Officer - "If there were fifty million Fins, what makes you think WE would share anything with YOU?"

On the Cold War:
Soviet Premier - "Brother, in the name of unity, what say we remove the border between our nations?"
Finnish President - "Brother, sadly I must decline, I could not possibly govern a country so large"

[willwham]

He slept well because he made peace with his kills. His enemy knew they were there to do the same to him, so he made peace by asking for forgiveness from each of them right after the fact of the kill and therefore absolving himself of guilt. He was a hunter and that is what a 'true' hunter does. 🙂

[Bruuba]

My mother has danced waltz with him. Such an honor! He was very polite and sweet.

[niekka]

Would like to add, that after being released from the hospital, mr. Häyhä wanted to come back to fight in the continuation war, but was declined by the government (due to the severity of his injuries). One of the most badass people ever.

[alvin]

When you're so badass at sniping that Soviet Artillery had to target your own position

[hugostiglitz]

I grew up surrounded by guns and used to hunt as a teenager. I was a pretty good shot but my brother was way better. At a target there was nothing between us. But out in the woods he seen to have the ability to see things that were out of place, even the smallest thing. Another thing he was great at was scanning a patch of clover and picking the ones with 4 leaves without even bending down. I think he got it from my grandfather who used to analyse aerial photographs during WW2.

[NateHenry]

How he shoots with circles for hands is beyond me. The fact that he got shot in the head and survived and then outlived the Soviet Union dying in 2002 makes this man's story even more incredible.