author
Horst von der Goltz
b. 1884
A shadowy figure from the world of First World War espionage, he wrote a memoir that promised readers an insider's view of secret missions and sabotage. His life story blends autobiography, wartime propaganda, and the murky line between confession and performance.
1 Audiobook
My adventures as a German secret agent
by Horst von der Goltz
About the author
Born Franz Wachendorf in Koblenz in 1884, Horst von der Goltz became known as a German counterintelligence agent during World War I. He is best remembered today for My Adventures as a German Secret Service Agent, an autobiographical account published in 1918 that drew on his wartime experiences and public notoriety.
His story reached beyond print. Contemporary reference sources note that he also appeared as himself in The Prussian Cur, a U.S. propaganda film directed by Raoul Walsh. That unusual crossover from espionage to screen performance helps explain why his name still surfaces in discussions of wartime intelligence, media, and propaganda.
Because the surviving public record is fairly limited, some details of his later life remain uncertain. What is clear is that his memoir offers a vivid period document: part personal narrative, part spy story, and part window into how World War I was told to the public.