The Sniper Simo Hayha One Shot One Kill

Simo Häyhä (1905 – 2002) is the most famous sniper in the world. He is a sniper with a capital S. During the Winter War, which was fought between Finland and Soviet Union in 1939 – 1940, he obediently carried out the demanding tasks he was commanded to. He was one of the significant persons who created the Spirit of the Winter War by leading the way. He has been a role model for snipers all over the world and paved the way for them by showing their significance in the battlefield. He still holds the record of the snipers, 542 confirmed kills, with iron sights. Simo Häyhä was a man of action who spoke very little. He was rewarded for his actions in many ways during and after the Winter War, the only war he ever participated in. He was promoted from corporal to second lieutenant and he was awarded the Cross of Kollaa (Kollaan Risti). He was also rewarded a Honorary Rifle, Sako m/28 on February 17 1940 at Kollaa front. For sniping Simo Häyhä used his own m/28-30 rifle the whole time. Simo was wounded on March 6 1940. Simo Häyhä lived two lives: The first one before the Winter War and the second one after his recovery. Simo got back on his feet and created long lasting career in farming and forestry. His roots were deep in the Finnish soil and he loved the life in rural Finland. He was also a master in breeding hunting dogs and he knew how to hunt small game and moose. He shot 73 moose, last one in 1984. Tapio Saarelainen, the author of this book, is a career officer in the Finnish Army. He has spent two decades in training snipers. In his youth he competed in rifle shooting. The author has spent lots of time investigating Simo Häyhä’s life and accomplishments and he interviewed Simo dozens of times during 1997 – 2002. The author has also participated in writing the Sniper’s Manual for the Finnish Defence Forces in 2000 – 2003. He has transferred Simo Häyhä’s trade secrets to the mentioned manual through this writing process. Waging war is the essential part of humanity. This has not changed, although the form of waging war and the methods have. War is getting more technical, but the nature of sniping remains the same.