Chapter 11. SUDParis, 1914 Before the French military tribunal delivered a death sentence to a woman, which was an unprecedented case even for wartime, the world-famous dancer Mata Hari was charged with espionage.

It was not so easy to bring clarity to a complicated matter, and it was extremely difficult to find the beautiful dancer to be guilty. Mata Hari was able to “attract to her side very influential friends, witnesses, and her protector maestro Kluyne, a respectable elderly person, loved her deeply and was ready to give her life for her. The official report of the military tribunal, issued after the trial, does not tell us much. But the secret documents make it clear why the secret agent of German intelligence under the code N. 21 could not hope for pardon. It is not surprising why even the usually gallant French did so cruelly to her. One of her most ardent enemies, Massard, who at that time was the commandant of Paris, said: "If this woman cannot be shot down as a spy, she should be burned as a witch."

The court chairman was the officer of impeccable reputation, Colonel Sompra. He declared the court closed, and no one from the public was allowed to attend. This was done not so much, as was officially announced, for fear of disclosing secrets, but because of the nature of the person accused. Numerous guards would not allow even a mouse to slip through. Nothing should offend the dignity of the court. But still there was something that, despite precautionary measures, threatened to unbalance these reputable state institutions, the beautiful, incredibly beautiful sky-blue eyes of Mata Hari. It was the only means of her protection in this hall hostile to her.

Reporting on the publication of court materials, the commandant of Paris, Massard, said: "This document reveals the blunt truth, no more and no less naked than the dancer herself in his performances."

For him, as well as for the prosecution, the artist’s extremely complex nature, her past life, her needs and desires did not contain decisive factors worth investigating.

“This woman accepted the money from the Germans, and the court came to the conclusion that the facts speak for themselves,” was the court’s argument. He showed only contempt for the accused. “She received numerous letters from officers, pilots and famous important personalities. But the letter was written to her by the former Minister of War and contained current news and intimate, extremely intimate descriptions of other things. ” When they were going to over-read this letter, the accused stood up and asked the court not to attach him to the case file, or at least omit the author's name. "The person who signed this letter is happily married, and I would not want to be a cause of discord in this very prosperous family." Her request made a clear impression on Colonel Sompra.

She is accused of having breakfast with the German police commissioner on the morning of the declaration of war, and later received the sum of 30,000 marks from the head of the German intelligence service and agreed to carry out his important assignment.

Her answer is truly sensational. "Yes you are right. But this senior figure gave me money not for espionage purposes. He gave them to me in payment for giving myself to him, because the head of the German intelligence was my lover. " The court found that this amount is too large to pay for intimate communication. The defendant is indignant that she is considered unworthy of such big money. “Nobody gave me less,” she proudly declares.

She was then charged with traveling from Berlin to Paris through Belgium, the Netherlands and Anglia, and under some pretext spent seven months in a field hospital located in the military zone in the town of Vittel.The accused explains that in order to atone for her sinful way of life, she decided to take care of the Russian cavalry officer, blinded in battle. There are many witnesses who confirm this fact and express their admiration for her devotion and unselfishness. (Captain Maslov was one of three people, which Mata Hari wrote a letter fifteen minutes before the execution).

She is further accused of being, according to her own confessions, always trying to establish contacts with members of the armed forces. She acknowledged this with a smile, explaining that she had always preferred men in military uniform to people of a heroic character, and mentioned that her husband was also a military man. Nevertheless, the tribunal seems very suspicious of her weakness for the pilots. It is pointed out that she informed the enemy about the areas where French aircraft were based to observe the German advance. “In doing so, you, Madame, sent many of our soldiers to death,” is the harsh conclusion of Colonel Sompra. The accused admits that during her stay in the military hospital she corresponded with the head of the German intelligence service, who at that time was in Holland. She, however, firmly states that she did not mention any military events. The face of Mata Hari acquires a contemptuous expression, it is full of hatred for people who are in such a hurry to sign her death sentence. In one report, the accused is described as:

“A very tall, slender, her slightly oblong and narrow face sometimes takes on a rather rigid and unpleasant expression, despite the beautiful blue eyes and regular features of the face. Her slim figure is well underlined by a dark blue dress with laces and a deep neckline. ” Her mind hit everyone, Mata Hari was energetic and sly. She calls all her ties with her husband, except Maslov, business, and cynically and shamefully describes herself as a modern Messalina. She constantly repeats that the reward she received has always been very generous. They try to understand her on the question of why she was hunting for officers and politicians, and not bankers and millionaires. She immediately replies: "The richest are rarely given up with money." Finally, the fact that she offered her services to the head of the French intelligence service was announced, and this doubled the suspicions about her. At this time the dancer pales and is silent for a long time. But then she takes possession of herself and replies that at that moment she was terribly in need of money. But there is no more doubt: Mata Hari admitted that she was a spy. Whether at the expense of Germany or France, this fact to her, a citizen of neutral Holland, does not seem to be essential. Now she is asked one more question: “What use do you think France could bring?” Her answer makes the prosecutor smile grimly These things that you just listed could not have become known to you without close ties with the Germans. ”The Constructive Response Fully confused, Mata Hari explains that she heard some of the secret information she knows you can't remember s, where and when. “I am a poor woman who is being hunted by a gang of uncivilized officers, they decided to destroy me, forcing me to confess to crimes that I have never committed,” she says sharply.

Then the third blow is struck. According to her own proposal to go to Belgium as a Dutch citizen, she is given letters to a French agent who was there. She was supposed to land in England, from there go to Holland, and then as soon as possible to Belgium. However, she traveled to Spain and handed over French instructions to the enemy. Three weeks after her departure, a French agent in Brussels, whom she had thus betrayed, was shot by the Germans. There is only one unanswered fact that can explain her possible innocence. Despite all the warnings she received in Madri-de, she nevertheless returned to Paris.

The Dutch consul in Madrid, de Witt, confirms that she expressed her concerns about returning to France after her betrayal. He told her that in these dangerous times only people with a calm message can cross the border. Mata Hari was contemptuous, but she looked at him and left. He added that he was not completely surprised that soon after that she was arrested at the Ritz Hotel. The French ambassador informed him that this female spy had cost France at least a whole division.

This is the whole question: did she return to France because she considered herself pure, or did she make a fatal mistake that led to arrest and trial? It is strange that neither she nor her protector used this fact as a proof of her innocence. The famous jurist sent all hopes to the testimony of witnesses - a whole series of important persons. The number of high-ranking and titled lovers was incredible, and Colonel Morne said that all these people had become toys in her non-satisfying embrace. Her defender could not argue against these accusations, because during the trial process, in all likelihood, he himself was Mata Hari's lover. Spicy detail: the head of the German intelligence service sent his lover money from public funds intended for very different purposes. “In a respectful way, believe me,” stammered, she said blaming May, “I tell you the absolute truth. I never received money for espionage, I was paid only for the nights I spent with these people. ” But her passionate requests are useless, everyone is deaf to them. Then she suddenly tries to seduce the gendarmes guarding her, saying love words to them and casting promising glances. Such she was.

Finally, the prosecution presents its strongest argument: all the letters that she wrote to the head of the German intelligence service, which were intercepted, were signed by N. Even the passionate speech of her honorable advocate is unable to change the unshakable opinion of the judges.

After the meeting, which lasted only ten minutes, the military tribunal passes its sentence. He is unanimous, on the question of whether the dancer is guilty, all the officers present firmly answer: "Yes." Tears are rolling down the defendant’s cheeks, but soon she regains a calm, almost indifferent state and even smiles. As one officer said respectfully about the character of this woman, she knows not only how beautiful it is to love, but also how beautiful it is to die.