Great War Weekly Picture 72
Spy
Mata Hari is known as one the most beautiful spies in history. The name is derived from the Malayan mata (eye) and hari (dawn); she is thus the Eye of the Dawn.
Her real name was Greta Zelle. She was Dutch, born in 1876 in the city of Leeuwarden in the North of Holland. Her father sold hats and caps. She became a dancer and had this picture made of herself.
Ms. Zelle slipped into countless French and German beds, and became a pawn in international intrigue. In 1917 she was arrested in France. She was convicted as a spy and executed on October 15th.
Mystery. In spite of the enormous research that has been done, historians have never clarified the exact nature of Mata Hari's spying activities.
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