Here is a concise summary of the text:
**Subject:** Simo Häyhä, aka "The White Death"
**Time Period:** Winter War (1939-1940), Soviet-Finnish conflict
**Summary:**
* Simo Häyhä, a Finnish soldier, became a legendary sniper during the Winter War.
* Born and raised in southern Finland, Häyhä was a skilled hunter and marksman from a young age.
* He used unconventional tactics, such as iron sights (no scope) and camouflage, to achieve an unprecedented 542 confirmed kills in 100 days.
* The Soviets feared him, attempts were made on his life, and a bounty was placed on his head.
* Häyhä was severely wounded in March 1940 but miraculously survived, undergoing 26 surgeries.
* After the war, he lived a peaceful life, passing away in 2002 at the age of 96, leaving behind a legacy as one of the world's greatest snipers.
**Key Stats:**
* 542 confirmed kills in 100 days
* 200 career kills by end of January 1940
* 26 surgeries to repair his shattered jaw
* Died in 2002 at the age of 96
Here are the key facts extracted from the text, numbered and in short sentences:
**Biographical Facts**
1. Simo Häyhä was born in Rautjärvi, Southern Finland (implied, not explicitly stated in the provided text, but known from general knowledge).
2. Häyhä grew up in the rugged woods of Southern Finland.
3. He was a natural hunter and sharp shooter from a young age.
4. Häyhä was part of the Finnish Civil Guard and Finnish Army from the age of 17.
5. He passed away in 2002 at the age of 96.
**Military Career and Winter War**
6. Simo Häyhä was deployed as part of a garrison on the Finnish-Russian border during the Winter War (1939-1940).
7. He was assigned to work independently as a sniper due to his exceptional marksmanship skills.
8. Häyhä's first action as a sniper was a counter-sniping mission.
9. He used an M/28-30 rifle with iron sights, preferring them over scoped sights to avoid glare.
10. By the end of January 1940, Häyhä had achieved 200 career kills.
11. He was awarded a custom rifle by the Finnish government for his achievements (though he continued to use his M/28-30).
12. Häyhä achieved over 500 sniper kills in 100 days.
13. He led a squad against a superior Red Army force in early March 1940.
14. Häyhä was severely injured in the jaw by an exploding bullet during this battle.
15. Despite initial beliefs that he was dead, Häyhä survived and underwent 26 surgeries to repair his jaw.
**Legacy and Later Life**
16. Simo Häyhä is considered the world's greatest sniper and marksman.
17. He lived a peaceful life on a farm in the Finnish countryside after recovering from his injuries.
18. Häyhä had no nightmares about the war and slept well during and after the conflict.
19. He attributed his shooting skills to "practice".