The White Death, also known as Simo Häyhä, suffered severe facial wounds during the Winter War. Later in his life, he underwent several surgeries to reconstruct his face.
Simo Häyhä, a Finnish sniper nicknamed “The White Death” due to his deadly skills in the Winter War (1939-1940), was struck by an explosive bullet in his lower left jaw on March 6, 1940. The impact was devastating, almost tearing off his entire lower left cheek. Despite the severity of his injuries, Häyhä survived, which is remarkable considering the medical conditions of the time.
After being transported to a field hospital, Häyhä was in a coma for a week. Once he regained consciousness, his long journey to recovery began. The injury left him disfigured, but Finnish surgeons worked to reconstruct his face. Over the years, Häyhä underwent several surgeries. The procedures were quite successful, considering the extent of the damage and the era’s medical limitations. Although his face was not completely restored to its original state, the surgeries allowed him to live a relatively normal life after the war.
Häyhä’s resilience and the skill of his surgeons are a testament to the human spirit and the advancements in medical science of the time. Despite his injury, Häyhä lived until the age of 96, passing away in 2002. His legacy as one of the most effective snipers in history remains, with an estimated 500 confirmed kills during the Winter War.
