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Bubbagumpredditor t1_j91fk73 wrote

"dear diary, Froze my balls off again. Also killed every Russian within a 10 kilometer radius. Bored now."

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Bobyyyyyyyghyh t1_j92kj7g wrote

"I am torn. Do I let some Russians escape so they can bring more Russians to my location to look for me? Or do I continue my streak?"

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Nopatme OP t1_j91cmoi wrote

While the story of Häyhä's diary being found is well-known and publicized in Finland I think it is interesting also that no English news outlet has picked up the news during the years.

The diary can nowadays be read for free online. As it has been translated, visualized and contextualized to make it more understandable for non-Finnish readers.

https://whitedeathdiary.com/

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Ok-Hyena5373 t1_j92xb6g wrote

"...during his Civil Guard training, Häyhä once hit a target 16 times from 150 metres away in just one minute. "This was an unbelievable accomplishment with a bolt action rifle, considering that each cartridge had to be manually fed with a fixed magazine that held together five cartridges."[12]"

Bananas

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ukezi t1_j9xyooz wrote

Depends on how big the target was. The British had the mad minute drill that sounds similar:

>The exercise formally known as "Practice number 22, Rapid Fire, The Musketry Regulations, Part I, 1909", required the rifleman to fire 15 rounds at a "Second Class Figure" target at 300 yd (270 m). The practice was described as; "Lying. Rifle to be loaded and 4 rounds in the magazine before the target appears. Loading to be from the pouch or bandolier by 5 rounds afterwards. One minute allowed".

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Norwegian_Thunder t1_j922r5u wrote

Damn his rifle was left behind when he got injured. It's probably been destroyed but imagine if it's still out there somewhere in Russia.

Finish Mosin Nagant m28/30 serial number S60974.

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Nopatme OP t1_j923zyl wrote

I think it is speculated that the wooden parts would not have held up with the elements so it would be mainly metal remains.

There have been some search parties in the area which is quite swampy but nothing has been found.

There is atleast a completely unverified rumor that a gun collector in Espoo, Finland would have Häyhä's rifle.

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AmbitionSpecialist t1_j92jaxg wrote

Probably found by some local and has been harvesting boar for generations.

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obscureferences t1_j94m6n2 wrote

"I call it lucky cuz I misfired it once and it hit a boar anyway."

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gcm6664 t1_j93oeb6 wrote

I purchased a Mosin M39 pretty much just because of of Simo, and I suppose my Finnish ancestry. I know it is not the "correct" rifle but it is the one I prefer.

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greatgildersleeve t1_j91e91d wrote

A man so badass they had to put two umlauts in his name.

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Kharon8 t1_j91qpru wrote

That's actually very common in Finland and even more than 2 isn't rare. But I can say that 40% (2/5) is a bit much, even by local standards. ;)

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Nopatme OP t1_j91s45g wrote

I checked if there are any Häyhäkäinen in Finland for more Ä's but no only Häyhänens besides Häyhäs apparently.

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i_cum_while_pooping t1_j91xpda wrote

Hmm this gives me ideas. Löylyläinen? Hölmäkääpä? Köljönhöyry? Ryönämöinen? Vääräkääpä? So many possibilites for when I change my surname as an old man.

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WR810 t1_j9427zz wrote

I'm continually amazed with Hollywood hasn't done a movie about the White Death.

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Nopatme OP t1_j956nn7 wrote

They had a Russian White Death in Bullet Train...

The director of Rukajärven tie, one of the better Finnish WW2 movies, tried to make a Finnish-funded one about Häyhä in about 2015 but nothing resulted of that project.

That director had some personal troubles that made him a regular in misbehaving celebrity watch so maybe that contributed as well to the decision to not grant any Finnish film institute funds to the project.

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Slampumpthejam t1_j91tt1i wrote

Finns, do you carry a picture of Simo in your wallet?

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milkysway1 t1_j969yyr wrote

He preferred iron sights over telescopic sights. Amazing.

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MoseShrute_DowChem t1_j97x46g wrote

I think this was mainly to avoid lense glare which would give away his position, dude must’ve had eagle eyes tho

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Flint_Westwood t1_j98b7g5 wrote

This feels like the intro to an interesting fact, but there's not really a whole lot of interesting information in this post.

TIL that a guy had a diary.
Great.

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Nopatme OP t1_j99j7ni wrote

It was forbidden to link straight to the diary which has been completely unknown to the English-speaking world.

Which I think would have made for a better discussion as it is something completely new. Rather than just another rehashing of common Häyhä talking points. As that source is in his words.

The diary is available to be read for free online with all the context including the story of the diary being found.

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