Elsbeth Schragmüller
Encyclopedia
Elsbeth Schragmüller was a German
spy
during World War I
. For many years she was invariably known as Mademoiselle Docteur or Fräulein Doktor, her actual name being revealed only in 1945 from German intelligence
documents captured by the Allies
after World War II
, by which time she had already died of miliary tuberculosis
(in 1940). Her nickname acknowledges the fact that she had a doctoral
degree in political science
(and not psychology
as some fictional portrayals
have claimed) from the University of Freiburg
, being one of the first generation of German women to gain an academic degree.
officer and bailiff Carl Anton Schragmüller and his wife Valesca Cramer von Clausbruch. Her younger brother was the future SA
police chief of Magdeburg
, Konrad Schragmüller.
Schragmüller spent her childhood, first in Schlüsselburg and the with her grandmother in Münster
, where she attended elementary school. Subsequently, she resided at a girls boarding school
in Weimar
and was ultimaely sent to the girl's school founded in 1893 at Karlsruhe
, where she received her abitur
in 1908. From 1909-1914, she studied political science at Albert-Ludwigs-Universität in Freiburg
. She finished her studies in 1913 and was one of the first women in Germany to acquire a university degree. After her studies she worked for the Berlin Lette-Verein as a lecturer in civic education.
After the outbreak of the First World War, Schragmüller moved to occupied Belgium, where the German Governor General, Colmar von der Goltz, assigned her to Section VII, where she opened and intercepted letters. She later switched to intelligence collection and worked, after a short training period, in Lille
for the General Staff's intelligence wing, or Abteilung IIIb. In 1915, Colonel Walter Nicolai
, the head of Abteilung IIIb, assigned her as the chief of the Kriegsnachrichten Antwerpen. By the war's end, Schragmüller held the rank of Lieutenant and had been awarded the Iron Cross
First Class.
After armistice in 1918, Schragmüller resumed her academic career and became the first female assistant chair at Freiburg University. A few years later she moved with her family to Munich. Soon after her father and her brother Konrad, a senior SA officer, was shot during the Night of the Long Knives
. Soon after, Elspeth also ended her career abruptly for unknown reasons. One reason may have been lack of money.
Schrag Müller died in 1940 at the age of 52 years of bone tuberculosis
in her Munich apartment.
makes it unlikely that she contributed materially to the war effort even if, as some have claimed, she was again engaged in espionage activities.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
spy
Espionage
Espionage or spying involves an individual obtaining information that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. Espionage is inherently clandestine, lest the legitimate holder of the information change plans or take other countermeasures once it...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. For many years she was invariably known as Mademoiselle Docteur or Fräulein Doktor, her actual name being revealed only in 1945 from German intelligence
Intelligence agency
An intelligence agency is a governmental agency that is devoted to information gathering for purposes of national security and defence. Means of information gathering may include espionage, communication interception, cryptanalysis, cooperation with other institutions, and evaluation of public...
documents captured by the Allies
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, by which time she had already died of miliary tuberculosis
Miliary tuberculosis
Miliary tuberculosis is a form of tuberculosis that is characterized by a wide dissemination into the human body and by the tiny size of the lesions...
(in 1940). Her nickname acknowledges the fact that she had a doctoral
Doctor (title)
Doctor, as a title, originates from the Latin word of the same spelling and meaning. The word is originally an agentive noun of the Latin verb docēre . It has been used as an honored academic title for over a millennium in Europe, where it dates back to the rise of the university. This use spread...
degree in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
(and not psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
as some fictional portrayals
Mata Hari (1985 film)
Mata Hari is a 1985 film produced by Golan-Globus featuring Sylvia Kristel in the title role of exotic dancer Mata Hari, executed for espionage during World War I...
have claimed) from the University of Freiburg
University of Freiburg
The University of Freiburg , sometimes referred to in English as the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, is a public research university located in Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.The university was founded in 1457 by the Habsburg dynasty as the...
, being one of the first generation of German women to gain an academic degree.
Life
Schragmüller was the eldest of four children born to Prussian ArmyPrussian Army
The Royal Prussian Army was the army of the Kingdom of Prussia. It was vital to the development of Brandenburg-Prussia as a European power.The Prussian Army had its roots in the meager mercenary forces of Brandenburg during the Thirty Years' War...
officer and bailiff Carl Anton Schragmüller and his wife Valesca Cramer von Clausbruch. Her younger brother was the future SA
SA
-Organizations:* S.A. , a type of corporation in various countries* Salvation Army, a Christian denomination founded by William Booth* Sewickley Academy, a private school in the United States...
police chief of Magdeburg
Magdeburg
Magdeburg , is the largest city and the capital city of the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Magdeburg is situated on the Elbe River and was one of the most important medieval cities of Europe....
, Konrad Schragmüller.
Schragmüller spent her childhood, first in Schlüsselburg and the with her grandmother in Münster
Münster
Münster is an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also capital of the local government region Münsterland...
, where she attended elementary school. Subsequently, she resided at a girls boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
in Weimar
Weimar
Weimar is a city in Germany famous for its cultural heritage. It is located in the federal state of Thuringia , north of the Thüringer Wald, east of Erfurt, and southwest of Halle and Leipzig. Its current population is approximately 65,000. The oldest record of the city dates from the year 899...
and was ultimaely sent to the girl's school founded in 1893 at Karlsruhe
Karlsruhe
The City of Karlsruhe is a city in the southwest of Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg, located near the French-German border.Karlsruhe was founded in 1715 as Karlsruhe Palace, when Germany was a series of principalities and city states...
, where she received her abitur
Abitur
Abitur is a designation used in Germany, Finland and Estonia for final exams that pupils take at the end of their secondary education, usually after 12 or 13 years of schooling, see also for Germany Abitur after twelve years.The Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife, often referred to as...
in 1908. From 1909-1914, she studied political science at Albert-Ludwigs-Universität in Freiburg
Freiburg
Freiburg im Breisgau is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. In the extreme south-west of the country, it straddles the Dreisam river, at the foot of the Schlossberg. Historically, the city has acted as the hub of the Breisgau region on the western edge of the Black Forest in the Upper Rhine Plain...
. She finished her studies in 1913 and was one of the first women in Germany to acquire a university degree. After her studies she worked for the Berlin Lette-Verein as a lecturer in civic education.
After the outbreak of the First World War, Schragmüller moved to occupied Belgium, where the German Governor General, Colmar von der Goltz, assigned her to Section VII, where she opened and intercepted letters. She later switched to intelligence collection and worked, after a short training period, in Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
for the General Staff's intelligence wing, or Abteilung IIIb. In 1915, Colonel Walter Nicolai
Walter Nicolai
Walter Nicolai was the first senior IC Officer in the Imperial German Army. He came to run the military secret service, Abteilung IIIb, and to be important in the pro-war faction of German leaders during World War I...
, the head of Abteilung IIIb, assigned her as the chief of the Kriegsnachrichten Antwerpen. By the war's end, Schragmüller held the rank of Lieutenant and had been awarded the Iron Cross
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
First Class.
After armistice in 1918, Schragmüller resumed her academic career and became the first female assistant chair at Freiburg University. A few years later she moved with her family to Munich. Soon after her father and her brother Konrad, a senior SA officer, was shot during the Night of the Long Knives
Night of the Long Knives
The Night of the Long Knives , sometimes called "Operation Hummingbird " or in Germany the "Röhm-Putsch," was a purge that took place in Nazi Germany between June 30 and July 2, 1934, when the Nazi regime carried out a series of political murders...
. Soon after, Elspeth also ended her career abruptly for unknown reasons. One reason may have been lack of money.
Schrag Müller died in 1940 at the age of 52 years of bone tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
in her Munich apartment.
Urban legends
The activities of Fräulein Doktor were the subject of various urban legends during World War I but, as she was neither captured nor unmasked during her lifetime, much of her life story remains obscure and speculative, and it is unclear to what extent the various fictional treatments of her life story are accurate. Her death early in World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
makes it unlikely that she contributed materially to the war effort even if, as some have claimed, she was again engaged in espionage activities.