History focus for August 7

A short focus on a person or event associated with this day in History.

MATA HARI - WWI's Most famous Spy

The Mata Hari was the most famous spy of World War I. She was born on this day in 1876. Mata Hari was born in Holland as Margaretha Geertruida Zelle. Before becoming the famous spy, she was an innocent Dutch housewife. Her religious parents enroled her in a Catholic convent at the age of 14. While on vacation in The Hague at age 18, she met Captain Rudolph MacLeod. She fell in love with the drunken Scot, and though he was more than twice her age, they were soon married.

It was not the ideal marriage. Margaretha suffered bot verbal and physical abuse from her husband. MacLeod, duty in the Army lead him to Java. While in Java, Margaretha, studied the Vedas and other oriental books describing the joys of sensual love. She became very adept in the ancient arts and suggestive ritual dances performed by the Javanese bayas.

Her children were accidently poisoned in an attempt by the nurse to kill her husband. Her daughter survived, but her son died. She hated her husband and held him responsible for the death of her child.Her husband disappeared with their daughter, Non. Margaretha moved to Paris and began a career in dancing that was to make her a legend.

Soon Mata hari became a sensual success. Her name and photographs appeared frequently in all the Paris newspapers. Her exotic charms captivated the sophiticated cities of all of Europe. She combined her stage career with sexual liaisons with the wealthy. Men vied for her favors and she obliged with a price. She said that she never took less that $7,500 a night. She was approached by the Germans to become a spy. She accepted 20,000 francs from them in compersation for some furs they had confiscated earlier. She was given the code number H. 21. The truth was, she never contacted the Germans with information.

Mata Hari was detained by the British in 1915 on suspicion of espionage. There was no evidence against her. She was released. The suspicion followed her back to France. On July 24, 1917 she was brought before a court-martian on a charge of espionage. Evidence was distorted against her. Her reputation as a courtesan to men at the highest level of politics strengthened the case against her. She was exicuted on the morning of October 15, 1917. Mata Hari was the most notorious spys of World War I. She was executed for this crime, and yet, she never spyed for the Germans or any other country.

Source: The People's Almanac Presents the 20th Century

© Phillip Bower