HARI
“Mata Hari” was the stage name used by Margaretha Geertruida Zelle, born in the Netherlands in 1876. After an unsuccessful and somewhat tragic marriage, Zella moved to Paris in 1903 where she struggled to make a living. By 1905 she was working as an exotic dancer and using the name Mata Hari. She was a successful courtesan, notably moving in various circles of high-ranking military officers. She apparently worked as a double agent, both for the French and the Germans. When Mata Hari was accused by the French of passing information to the enemy, she was tried, found guilty and executed by firing squad at the height of WW1, in 1917.
Mata Hari was the stage name of Margaretha Geertruida “Margreet” Zelle, a Dutch exotic dancer and courtesan who gained international attention as a supposed spy during World War I. She was born on August 7, 1876, in the Netherlands. Mata Hari’s career as a dancer and her relationships with influential men brought her fame and notoriety in the early 20th century.
During World War I, Mata Hari was accused of spying for Germany and France. She was arrested in 1917 by the French authorities and underwent a highly publicized trial. Mata Hari was accused of passing military information to the Germans, although the evidence against her was questionable and largely circumstantial. Despite her defense, she was found guilty of espionage and executed by a firing squad on October 15, 1917, in France.
Mata Hari’s life and trial continue to be the subject of fascination and debate, with some viewing her as a victim of circumstances and others as a cunning spy. The true extent of her involvement in espionage remains unclear, and her story has been romanticized and dramatized in various books, films, and other media over the years.
