Ridiculous History

Mata Hari: Courtesan Turned WWI Double Agent?

Donnerstag, 17. September 2026 · 37 min

MP3

Shownotes

By any measure, Margaretha Zelle led a fascinating life. As a Dutch dancer, socialite and courtesan called Mata Hari, her globe-trotting lifestyle caught the attention of both German and French intelligence agencies. And she happily took money from both sides. Yet, as Ben, Noel, and Max discover in today's episode, historians are still divided on the facts: Was Mata Hari really a master double agent... or a glamorous government scapegoat?
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