The Winter War was a fascinating point in history and showed just how tenacious the Finnish nation was. It also brought to the fore amazing characters such as Aarne Jutilainen and legendary Finnish sniper Simo Häyhä; the latter of whom we take a look at today...
I have always had immense respect for this gentleman. Humble but dedicated. I also think the Finns were blessed to have Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim as their leader. Mannerheim had served Imperial Russia, led Finland in their War of Independence/Civil War, through the Winter War, and WW2. An honorable old-fashioned aristocratic and nationalistic gentleman. Thank you once again for an excellent presentation.
As it happened, Simo Häyhä came up in conversation yesterday; my flatmate was watching a film about the most deadly of the Red Army's 2,000 female snipers, Lyudmila Pavlichenko (309 confirmed kills), and he began to wonder about the most lethal snipers ever. I didn't have to resort to Google to tell him about Simo Häyhä. He definitely had "Sisu" (one of the only three words in Finnish that I know, thanks to a certain movie); strength of will, determination, perseverance, and acting rationally in the face of adversity (to quote Finlandia University), especially after that terrible wound. And to live to ninety-six he must have had an iron constitution.
Simo was lucky he didn’t have to face New Zealander Clive Hulme aka the Sniper Assassin who during the Battle of Crete personally hunted down 33 snipers, sometimes dressing up in German uniform to do it. He was later awarded the Victoria Cross.
Respect to the people of suomi. All the way from Somalia. You have a lot of heart for a small nation who fought effectively against a giant like Russia. 🫡
