20 Facts About “White Death”

Häyhä was born on December 17, 1905, in Rautjärvi, in the province of Viipuri, which was then part of the Grand Duchy of Finland. He grew up in a Lutheran family of eight children, where early mornings and hard work were part of daily life.

Having led a rather unglamorous life before the war, it is not surprising that Häyhä adapted so well to the harsh conditions of military life. That kind of upbringing tends to foster practical habits, as one quickly learns how the cold affects one’s grip and patience.

He joined the Finnish Civil Guard as a teenager, which gave him a sense of structure long before he became known throughout the country. Shooting competitions were part of that culture, and he honed his skills through repetition rather than showmanship.

His mandatory military service began in 1925 and included a stint in bicycle battalions, which required stamina and frequent travel. He also underwent training as a noncommissioned officer, so leadership expectations were already part of his routine.

He did not receive formal sniper training until 1938, at a Finnish training center in Utti. Over time, he was able to hone his skills in this essential military discipline.

During the Winter War, he served in the 6th Company of the 34th Infantry Regiment during the Battle of Kollaa. Accounts from that time describe temperatures ranging from -40 to -20 degrees Celsius, or from -40 to -4 degrees Fahrenheit.

According to Finnish accounts, it was Soviet troops who gave it the nickname “White Death,” and that name has stuck in the popular imagination. However, other explanations suggest that the term might also refer to the deadly frost itself, which was just as lethal as a skilled marksman. 

Häyhä wore all-white winter camouflage, which helped him blend into the snow and the edges of devastated forests. At the start of the war, many Soviet troops did not have equivalent winter camouflage, and this disparity made any moving silhouette stand out clearly against the white ground.

He used a Finnish-made M/28-30 rifle, a variant of the Mosin-Nagant associated with the Civil Guard and the Finnish Army.

His unit also fought at close range, and Häyhä used a Suomi KP/-31 submachine gun in addition to his rifle.

He is known for using metal sights rather than telescopic sights. Cold weather can cause problems for optics, and a telescopic sight can make a rifle more visible, so this decision was well-suited to the environment in which he worked.

He is generally credited with 505 confirmed kills during the Winter War, which is often said to have lasted less than 100 days. War records also show lower confirmed figures at certain times, notably 219 casualties attributed by a commander in mid-February 1940 and 259 recorded by a chaplain in early March, reflecting the strict confirmation rules.

On December 21, 1939, he set his highest single-day record, with 25 victims to his credit. This figure is generally cited with the understanding that winter days are short, which limits the time available for carrying out operations.

The number of kills attributed to his rifle is based on reports and confirmations from his comrades, and only verified kills were counted. If multiple snipers were firing at the same target, the records did not always attribute the kill to a single shooter, so the totals may vary depending on which record you consult.

Häyhä was about 160 centimeters tall—or about 1.60 meters—and he didn’t look very imposing in his uniform. The contrast between his unassuming appearance and his reputation on the battlefield is one of the reasons people remember him so clearly.

Skiing was essential in the harsh winter conditions. Fortunately, Häyhä was already comfortable on skis before the war. This allowed him to move easily through the snow and along forest trails.

Eyewitness accounts describe him carefully setting up his firing positions, particularly by shaping the snow to stabilize his rifle and minimize visible disturbances. The result was a professional approach, in which success depended on the ability to remain calm longer than others.

On March 6, 1940, he was struck by an explosive bullet that tore his face apart and shattered his lower left jaw. He was initially believed to be dead and placed among the bodies, until someone noticed that he was moving and had him evacuated so he could receive medical treatment.

He regained consciousness on March 13, 1940, the very day peace was declared and the Winter War came to an end. Rumors of his death had already been circulating, and he later corrected a newspaper article that had reported his death.

After the Winter War, he was promoted to second lieutenant by Marshal Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim—a rare promotion for a noncommissioned officer. Among other honors, he received the Medal of Liberty and the Cross of Liberty, and he lived until April 1, 2002, after returning to civilian life, which he devoted to farming and hunting.