Mata Hari

"I am a woman who enjoys herself very much; sometimes I lose, sometimes I win."

So said Margaretha Zelle - better known as, Mata Hari - before losing out badly on October 15, 1917. She was executed by firing squad on this day for spying on behalf of the Germans during WWI.

She was accused of consorting with senior military officials and giving away secrets that led to the deaths of tens of thousands of lives.