Mademoiselle Docteur - a career in the secret service. The gray eminence behind "Agent H21"

Mademoiselle Docteur – eine Geheimdienstkarriere. Die graue Eminenz hinter »Agent H21«

Two important female agents in the history of espionage in the 20th century. One in the spotlight of world history, the other almost unknown in the shadowy realm of espionage. Mata Hari alias "Agent H21" and "Mademoiselle Docteur" alias Elsbeth Schragmüller. What they both have in common is that they knew each other, but what is almost unknownis that "Mademoiselle Docteur" trained Mata Hari.

Both women began their secret service careers during the First World War. While one became a famous agent and double agent, the other became the first senior member of the German army's military intelligence service. Both agents voluntarily entered the field of espionage, counter-espionage and counter-intelligence. Was one really a dazzling and brilliant agent and the other a coolly calculating analyst? Reason enough to retell an unknown versus famous espionage story with two female historians. And fittingly for the event: 2026 is Mata Hari's 150th anniversary.

What does it actually look like for women in the secret service world today? Their perception is often limited to the "honey trap". But a lot has changed here. They have become central players in espionage and counter-espionage and occupy leading positions in the German domestic services.

PARTICIPANTSDr. Claudia Mocek, historian, authorKarin Feuerstein-Praßer, historian, author

MODERATIONBernd Palenda, former Federal Office for the Protection of the ConstitutionTranslated with DeepL

Next date:

• Date Thursday, 14/May/2026 19:00
• Venue Deutsches Spionagemuseum
• Address Leipziger Platz 9, 10117 Berlin-Mitte