Who Is Simo Häyhä? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Simo Häyhä, born on December 17, 1905, passed away on April 1, 2002. Renowned as one of the most accomplished military snipers in history, Häyhä gained fame during the Winter War, where he achieved an impressive kill count. By 2025, Simo Häyhä would be celebrated not only for his extraordinary battlefield skills but also for his influential legacy in military tactics and sniper training.
| Occupation | Other |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | December 17, 1905 |
| Age | 96 Years |
| Birth Place | Rautjärvi, Viipuri Province, Grand Duchy of Finland, Russian Empire |
| Horoscope | Sagittarius |
| Country | Finland |
| Date of death | 1 April, 2002 |
| Died Place | Hamina, Finland |
Popularity
Simo Häyhä's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
- Height: Häyhä stood at approximately 5 feet 3 inches (160 cm).
- Weight: His weight was around 140 lbs (63.5 kg), showcasing a lean physique that was well-suited for stealth and endurance.
- Measurements: While specific body measurements aren't documented, his physical agility contributed to his effectiveness as a sniper in extreme conditions.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Simo Häyhä valued his privacy, and details regarding his personal relationships were kept largely out of the public eye. Known to have remained unmarried throughout his life, Häyhä’s dedication was primarily focused on his military career and his love for Finland. It's noted that he cherished local culture, spending time with family and nearby community rather than pursuing fame or romantic relationships.
He was the seventh of eight children in a Lutheran family of farmers. His father, Juho Häyhä, was the owner of the Mattila farm, while his mother, Katriina (née Vilkko), was a loving and hard-working farmer's wife. He attended school in the village of Miettilä in Rautjärvi and helped cultivate the home farm alongside his eldest brother.
Before his military service, he was a farmer and enjoyed hunting and skiing.
Net Worth and Salary
Although specific figures regarding Häyhä's net worth at the time of his passing are not clearly documented, it is widely accepted that his military career, including participation in the Winter War, brought him recognition but not substantial wealth. In 2025, Häyhä's legacy continues to inspire and educate about military strategies and the sniper profession, contributing to the preservation of his pivotal role in history rather than generating direct financial compensation.
Career, Business, and Investments
Häyhä's military career was undoubtedly his most significant achievement. Serving in the Finnish army during the Winter War, he built a reputation as an exceptional marksman. His skills were cultivated in his youth, focused on hunting and using various firearms, leading to his record-breaking tenure as a sniper. Post-war, Häyhä lived a humble life, sharing insights on military tactics but refrained from commercial ventures or investments. His dedication to his craft and respect for military tradition remained pivotal.
Häyhä served as a sniper in the Finnish Army during the 1939–40 Winter War between Finland and the Soviet Union, under Lieutenant Aarne Juutilainen in the 6th Company of Infantry Regiment 34 (Jalkaväkirykmentti 34, or JR 34) during the Battle of Kollaa in temperatures between -40 and -20 C.
He was dressed completely in white camouflage; Soviet troops were not issued camouflage uniforms for most of the war, making them easily visible to snipers in winter conditions. Joseph Stalin had purged military experts in the late 1930s as part of the Great Purge, and as a result the Red Army was highly disorganized.
Social Network
While Simo Häyhä did not have a presence on modern social media platforms, his legacy has been celebrated and shared through various online forums, military history groups, and documentary features. In 2025, fans and historians continue to honor his life and career, ensuring that his teachings and memories remain accessible to the world.
American author Arna Bontemps Hemenway has written a short story about Häyhä, called "Wolves of Karelia", which was published in the August 2019 issue of The Atlantic magazine. Häyhä also appears in the 2024 novel Les Guerriers de l'hiver by Olivier Norek.
Education
Simo Häyhä’s formal education details remain sparse; he was known to be self-taught in practical skills such as marksmanship and survival techniques. His education likely stemmed from life skills acquired through agriculture and hunting in the Finnish wilderness, which laid a foundation for his tactical expertise in the military.
In 1925, at age 19, Häyhä began his 15-month compulsory military service in the Bicycle Battalion 2 in Raivola, Viipuri Province. He attended the Non-Commissioned Officer School and served as a conscript officer in the Bicycle Battalion 1 in Terijoki. However, he did not receive formal sniper training until 1938, a year before the war, at a training centre in Utti.
