The Black Baron.

This is coolbert:

I came across this one by accident. Good stuff. Never heard of this person before.

We have heard of the "Red Baron". [Manfred von Richtofen].

Here is the Black Baron.

What is called a larger-than-life-character.

Read further here.

This fellow seems to have had a very high opinion of himself. Ended up being executed by the Bolsheviks.

"he was considered a very brave, but a somewhat reckless and mentally unstable officer"

"Ungern von Sternberg was also known as the 'Mad Baron' because of his exceedingly eccentric behaviour."

[Sounds sort of like Orde Wingate.]

"Ungern von Sternberg became Mongolian dictator. A mystic who was fascinated by beliefs and religions of the Far East such as Buddhism and who believed himself to be a reincarnation of Genghis Khan, Ungern von Sternberg's philosophy was an exceptionally muddled mixture of Russian nationalism with Chinese and Mongol beliefs."

"Ungern von Sternberg was said to have chewed up his Cross of St. George medal in order to prevent it from falling into the hands of the sacrilegious communists."

[the Baron was what you call "hard core".]

"Ungern von Sternberg was declared to be a Mahakala incarnation by the Dalai Lama XIII."

[Dig that one!!!]

coolbert.