How Finnish farmer became deadliest sniper in history

Standing at just over five-foot tall and with a ready grin, Simo Häyhä might not look like a killing machine.

But the former farmer from Rautjärvi, southern Finland, was just that - racking up 505 confirmed sniper kills for his country in its battle against the Soviet Union during the now largely forgotten Winter War of 1939-40.

Häyhä, who died 15 years ago aged 96, played an instrumental role in the conflict, during which 25,900 Finns died to protect their new-found independence against the Soviets, who lost 126,900 soldiers.

More