Although we tend to think of World War II as a single, monolithic conflict, there were distinct wars separate from the global conflagration. The Winter War between the Soviet Union and Finland is one such battle, and although it only lasted 105 days between 1939 and 1940, it was long enough for a humble farmer named Simo Häyhä to become the deadliest sniper in modern history.
According to HistoryExtra, Häyhä was born in 1905 in a region of Finland that is today part of Russia. A farmer, he enjoyed hunting, skiing, and shooting, which just happen to be the precise skill set required to be a deadly sniper during the Winter War, as noted by Forces.net. His habit of hunting birds and foxes required him to learn how to hide, remain perfectly still, and wait for the perfect opportunity to strike. By all accounts, Häyhä was unemotional about his work, fearlessly working alone and once stating that he didn't hate the enemy — he simply did his job to the best of his ability.
Häyhä served just 98 days before an injury sent him to the hospital. In those 98 days, he killed an absolutely terrifying 542 Russians, at a time and location when there was very little sunlight to work with. This impressively deadly resume earned him the nickname "White Death."
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