Simo "Simuna" Häyhä was a Finnish sniper, considered the most deadly sniper in war history. A farmer by profession from Karelia having hobbies of shooting, hunting and snow-skiing Häyhä served the Finnish Army against the Soviet Union Red Army as a sniper during Winter War. He reportedly killed 505 to 542 men using a Suomi KP/-31 and a Finnish-produced M/28-30 rifle during the war marking the maximum number of sniper kills recorded in any major war. Tagged as ‘White Death’ by the Red Army, Häyhä is reported to have killed 25 Russian soldiers on December 21, 1939. Such feat was labelled as ‘Simo Häyhä’s Christmas gift to Finland’ by newspapers. He escaped death many a times from counter-snipers and artillery strikes of the Soviets; however was once hit in his lower left jaw by an explosive bullet that severely injured his face. Following the Winter War he was promoted from Corporal to Second lieutenant; nevertheless he got back to his farming pursuits and eventually became a successful dog breeder and moose hunter who also hunted with Finnish President Urho Kekkonen.