Häyhä was born in 1905, joined the Civil Guard at the age of 17, and did his mandatory military service from 1925 to 1927. He was first issued an American-made New England Westinghouse M91 Mosin as a Guardsman. After being discharged form the Army in 1927, he returned to active Civil Guard membership while living and working on his family farm in Karelia. He developed a reputation as an excellent marksman, both in competitive shooting and as a hunter.
When the Civil Guard developed the M28-30 pattern of Mosin, Häyhä was once of many who opted to pay a part of the cost to have his own personal rifle to keep at home, and it is with his personal M28-30… that he went to war when the Soviet Union attacked in November 1939, starting the Winter War. The 28-30 featured a new style of sights to replace the Russian Konovalov pattern… In addition, the barrels were free-floated and the stocks made from two spliced pieces of wood to prevent changing temperatures and humidity from impacting rifle zero.
In his 95 days of active service during the Winter War, Simo Häyhä was credited with 542 enemy soldiers killed – mostly with his M28-30 Mosin Nagant (although he did also use the Suomi SMG and LS-26 LMG at times). He finally ran out of luck on March 6, 1940 when he was hit in the face by a Soviet exploding bullet. He was in a coma for 6 days, and spent several months in hospital, where some 26 surgeries were necessary to reconstruct his jaw – and he was permanently disfigured. His name is permanently linked to snipers worldwide, and also to the Winter War legacy “Kollaa kestää” – “Kollaa holds”. He lived a quiet bachelor life as a farmer after the war, breeding hunting dogs and occasionally doing things like taking the President of Finland moose hunting. He passed away peacefully in 2002 at the age of 96.
Ian’s Video: [19:18] https://youtu.be/3XzmCQUPyTM?si=
When you hear snow talking in Finish…
I have always found Häyhä really interesting. He is reported to have not wanted to return to active service, but felt he had to. He would spend 24+ hours alone in snow banks, put snow in his mouth to reduce fog from his breath and shot with iron sights because it exposed less of his head. More than once the Soviets called in artillery on him because they were unable to find him
He may have been the single most effective soldier of the modern era. Yet everything he did was for not. It didn’t have a meaningful effect on the outcome of the Winter war. Maybe I am overthinking it but it has always spoke too futility of war.
The Soviets thought they could take all of Finland in less than a week. It took 95 days for them to save face. Finnish army, Hayha included, humiliated the Red Army in front of every one. Not for naught.
There’s a great episode of the Timesuck podcast (episode 165: Simo Hayha: White Death)
I’m not going to link to it, because I’m not sure of the thread rules, but it’s a seriously well done and researched podcast on the life of this sniper.
(Edit: 22 MAR 2024 10:47 EST)
Here’s a link to “Timesuck episode 165: Simo Hayha: White Death” (I’ll use a YouTube link, probably more widely accessible)
Feel free to link it, I’m sure a number of people will be interested.
The only five rules we have so far are in short:
- Be civil
- No politics
- No advertising
- Stay on topic
- No NSFW
There’s some exceptions on #2-#5. #3-#5 are mostly just to prevent random spam. If anyone wants more info on the rules check the side bar or reach out to me.
This guy is such a fucking legend, even in my favorite video game, FTL - Faster Than Light, there is a stealth ship named “Simo-H”.
the person you replied to is a complete stranger whose opinions should mean fuck all to you
complete stranger whose opinions should mean fuck all to you
You understand the irony here correct?
I too am a stranger and so are all the people that person generalized and insulted, I’d be just as upset if they said Jews are greedy because it too is an unuseful generalized insult.
Similarly you’re offended, you should take your own advice in the case or at the very least not offer it hypocritically.
