Mata Hari

Mata Hari

Margaretha Zelle is one of the most famous spies in the world. While some spies stayed hidden from the prying eyes of the enemy and collected their information in secret, others tried to lay low live among the enemy as best they could without being noticed. Margaretha had a different point of view. After she divorced her husband in 1905, she began spying for the Germans during World War I. She took the stage name Mata Hari meaning “eye of the dawn” and“sun”. She claimed to be a princess from Java and began dancing for French officers. Her dancing was a hit with the soldiers.

No one suspected her as a spy for many reasons. After all, if she was a spy she would hide, right? She wouldn't dance for everyone to see. Plus she was a woman! She was not German, she was Dutch and part Japanese. She was only based in Germany. Sometimes the best place to hide is out in the open. Being a “princess” she lived alongside high ranking military officers. This gave her a perfect way to collect information for the Germans. The Germans paid her to spy on the French but she was never devoted to the cause. In fact, when the French offered her a position spying on the Germans, she didn't refuse. Now Margaretha was a double agent.

Not for long. Soon after she was discovered by the French and was sentenced to death. On Oct. 15, 1917, the day of the shooting, she ordered a new dress and gloves. She refused a blindfold and blew a kiss at the firing squad.