Commander of the Danish Free Corps (Frikorps Danmark) in World War II. Born in Zmilingorsk in Siberia to a Danish father and Russian mother from a noble family, his early education was in the Tsar's cadet corps. After the Russian Revolution, he and his family were forced to flee to Denmark, which gave him a lifelong hatred of communism. While he was first ruled unfit for military service in 1927, nevertheless, by 1929, he was a listed as a Lieutenant in the Danish army in his marriage record. He was promoted to Captain in 1935, and was active in Danish Nazi circles, where he became head of the youth branch of that party. His known anti-Semitism caused concern among his superiors, who considered him "unstable" and "possibly a dangerous man". When the Russians attacked Finland in 1939, he joined Danish volunteers assisting the Finnish Army. He thus was out of the country when Germany invaded Denmark in 1940. Although an ardent Nazi, he was disappointed that Denmark had surrendered without a fight. Still a Danish Army officer, he was permitted by the king and the Danish Army in September 1940 to join the 5th SS Wiking Division as a Hauptsturmfuehrer (Captain). He took part in the German invasion of Russia, earning the Iron Cross First and Second Class. He was then involved in forming the Frikorps Danmark and was selected as its second commander in March 1942, as he was both politically reliable and well regarded by his subordinates, and was promoted to Sturmbahnfuehrer (Major). In early May, his unit was flown into the Demyansk Pocket, and on June 2, he led the unit's first attack, which turned out to be a disaster, as he was killed by a mine and artillery fire while leading his troops from the front at Robja near Biakowo. He was first buried in the unit cemetery at Biakowo. He was promoted to his final rank of Obersturmbannfuehrer (Lieutenant Colonel) posthumously, and a Danish medal, the Schalburg Cross, was created in his name to be awarded to Danish soldiers serving on the Eastern Front. His sister Vera was a well-known Soviet/German/Engish spy and double-agent during the war.