mata hari

listen to the pronunciation of mata hari
English - English
Mata Hari. a Dutch dancer and member of the German secret service in Paris during World War I, who obtained military secrets from Allied army officers of high rank. She was tried in court and shot by the French. Her name is sometimes used to represent an attractive woman that men want to please (1876-1917). orig. Margaretha Geertruida Zelle born Aug. 7, 1876, Leeuwarden, Neth. died Oct. 15, 1917, Vincennes, near Paris, France Dutch courtesan and alleged spy in World War I. In 1895 she married Campbell MacLeod, a Scottish officer, and lived in Java and Sumatra (1897-1902), after which they returned to Europe and separated. In 1905 she began to dance in Paris, calling herself Mata Hari (a Malay expression for the sun). Beautiful and exotic and willing to dance virtually nude, she soon had numerous lovers, including military officers. Details of her spying activities are unclear, but she apparently spied for Germany from 1916. She was arrested by the French in 1917, tried by a military court, and shot by firing squad
Dutch dancer who was executed by the French as a German spy in World War I (1876-1917)
mata hari
Favorites
More...
Clear