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Mata Hari
Margaretha Geertruida "Margreet" MacLeod, better known by the stage name Mata Hari, was a Dutch exotic dancer and courtesan who was convicted of being a spy for Germany during World War I and executed by firing squad in France.

She was born in Leeuwarden, in the province of Friesland in the Netherlands. Margaretha's father went bankrupt in 1889, her parents divorced, and then her mother died in 1891, at which point her family fell apart.

At 18, Zelle married Rudolf MacLeod in Amsterdam in 1895. They had two children together. However, MacLeod was an alcoholic and regularly beat his wife. In 1902 the couple officially separated and Zelle moved to Paris, where she performed as a circus horse rider. Struggling to earn a living, she also posed as an artist's model. By 1905, Mata Hari began to win fame as an exotic dancer. Prior to World War I, she was generally viewed as an artist and a free-spirited bohemian.

During World War I, the Netherlands remained neutral and Zelle was able to cross national borders freely. During the war, Zelle was involved with a Russian pilot, whom she called the love of her life. In 1916, he was shot down and badly wounded, so Zelle to asked for permission to visithim near the front. Zelle was met by agents from the Deuxième Bureau who told her that she would only be allowed to see Maslov if she agreed to spy on Germany. In November 1916, she was travelling from Spain when her ship called at the British port of Falmouth. There she was arrested and taken to London where she was interrogated. In late 1916, Zelle travelled to Madrid, where she met with the German military attaché, Major Arnold Kalle, and asked if he could arrange a meeting with the Crown Prince. During this period, Zelle apparently offered to share French secrets with Germany in exchange for money. In January 1917, Major Kalle sent radio messages to Berlin describing the helpful activities of a German spy code-named H-21, whose biography so closely matched Zelle's that it was patently obvious that Agent H-21 could only be Mata Hari. The Deuxième Bureau intercepted the messages and identified H-21 as Mata Hari.

On 13 February 1917, Mata Hari was arrested. She was put on trial on 24 July, accused of spying for Germany, and consequently causing the deaths of at least 50,000 soldiers. Although the French and British intelligence suspected her of spying for Germany, neither could produce definite evidence against her. Supposedly secret ink was found in her room, which was incriminating evidence in that period. She contended that it was part of her makeup. Zelle was executed by firing squad on 15 October 1917, at the age of 41. She was not tied to the stake, and refused a blindfold.

Born 7th August 1876 in Leeuwarden, Netherlands
Died 15th October 1917 in Vincennes, Paris, France

I am a woman who enjoys herself very much; sometimes I lose, sometimes I win.

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