Soviet Army's Worst Nightmare

Added: 2026-05-26

[00:00:00]The Soviet Army sent thousands of soldiers to kill one man. They failed.

[00:00:05]His name was Simo Häyhä, a Finnish farmer, 5 feet 3 inches tall. In the Winter War of 1939, Finland was invaded by the Soviet Union. Simo picked up his rifle [music] and walked into the snow. No scope, iron sights only, because a scope glints in the light and he refused to be found. He buried himself in snow drifts for hours.

[00:00:29]Temperatures at minus 40. In 100 days, 505 [music] confirmed kills. The Soviets called him the White Death. They sent counter snipers, failed. They sent an artillery [music] strike, failed.

[00:00:44]Finally, a Soviet soldier shot him in the jaw. He survived, woke up from surgery the day World War II ended, went home, lived quietly [music] until he was 96. When asked if he regretted any of it, he said, "I did what I was told."