Intelligence, charisma and beauty are the perfect weapons that every woman has at her disposal to conquer her partner, but what would happen if these characteristics were used by female spies working at the world’s intelligence agencies?
We all know how easily a man can fall for a woman’s charms. No matter if this man is a typical office worker or a high command agent in the military, this “weakness” will be present before any beautiful lady, especially if it is a woman who is highly trained to get all the information that is stored in that little “brain” altered by hormones.
Women have had a great importance in the field of espionage. No matter what side they are on, all of them are characterized by being very beautiful, very charismatic and extremely intelligent above all.
Margaretha Geertruida Zelle (1876 – 1917)
From Javanese blood on her mother’s side, this actress inherited her exotic and oriental features, an element she used to gain fame and glory. Luxury courtesan, exotic dancer and spy Mata Hari -as she was better known-, managed to stand out since her youth for her obvious beauty and charisma. A year before the end of the “Great War” she was tried and accused of being a double agent for Germany. She was charged with the death of hundreds of French soldiers and was undoubtedly used as a scapegoat to justify the great failures of France during the First World War, given that during her trial she was found guilty without conclusive evidence and based on uncertain hypotheses.
Hilde Krüger (1912 – 1991)
Standing 5’7″ tall, with a light complexion, golden hair, obvious voluptuousness and a penetrating gaze, this actress candidate found her promised land in Mexican territory. Characterized by her remarkable intelligence and exotic beauty by Mexican standards, this German spy played an important role in Nazi interests on Mexican soil.
She achieved her mission thanks to her contact with the high political spheres of the Mexican state, to such an extent that she was the beloved of figures such as Manuel Avila Camacho (president of Mexico between 1940 and 1946). Among her lovers we find top politicians, wealthy businessmen and famous artists. It was never possible, or wanted, to prove her relationship with Nazi Germany, even though she was a friend of Joseph Goebbels, head of Nazi propaganda.
Violette Szabo (1921 – 19459)
As the widow of a Hungarian officer of the foreign legion, and with a daughter at age 21, her story as a spy began when she returned to London after a year and a half with her husband who died in combat. Decorated with the George Cross and the Croix de Guerre, this lieutenant of the British Secret Service participated mainly in missions focused on the reconnaissance of enemy territory and supporting the French resistance during the Second World War. She died in a concentration camp after being captured by the SS.
Krystyna Skarbek (1908 – 1952)
Polish by birth and raised in a cradle of gold as the daughter of Count Jerzy Skarbek, her keen intelligence and ability to learn languages was remarkable since her childhood. She was a favorite of Winston Churchill in his history as a spy in the British Secret Service. At the end of the war, Krystyna was the oldest female spy in the BSS. She was decorated with the George Cross and awarded to be an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, as well as the Croix de Guerre by France. Unfortunately she was easily forgotten, since once the war was over she was dismissed with one month’s salary, forcing her to work as a stewardess on an ocean liner, where she was stabbed to death by a co-worker who was obsessed with her. Christine Granville, as she was called once naturalized English, was used as inspiration by Ian Fleming to create the first Bond girl.
Anna Chapman (1982)
Deported to Russia after being found guilty of espionage, Anna Chapman has been one of the most striking spies in recent years given her stunning beauty and desirable figure. She has been compared to comic book characters such as Black Widow. She came to the United States working for the Russian Federation’s Foreign Intelligence Agency. Her undercover arrival was based on playing a wealthy businesswoman and model, she was assigned to obtain data on U.S. nuclear weapons as well as important information regarding U.S. policy on Middle East issues. One of her most recent public appearances was posing as a model for the men’s magazine Maxim.
This story was originally published in Spanish by Cultura Colectiva.
