Live Broadcast of Olaf Scholz Getting a Grand Tattoo - Live Stream Spectacle by Olaf Scholz Unfolds
Headline:Bid Farewell to Olaf Scholz: Witness the Touching Tapping Ceremony Live!
- Estimated Reading Time: ≈ 2 minutes
Join the heartfelt sendoff as Olaf Scholz, the outgoing German Federal Chancellor, receives his well-deserved military tribute at the Berlin headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Defense on Monday night.
The emotional one-hour ceremony serves as the highest form of military recognition granted by German soldiers. This occasion strengthens camaraderie amongst the troops and cultivates the bond between the military and the population.
A Venerable Custom Steeped in History
With roots tracing back to the 16th century landschnechts era, this tradition boasts a rich military heritage. An innkeeper's call to halt serving drinks in taverns, announced with a strike on the drink barrels, gave birth to the name "tattoo." Centuries later, the innovative signals evolved to incorporate various musical instruments.
The contemporary tapping ceremony, fashioned in the early 19th-century during the Wars of Liberation, integrates the "calling" of musicians, the appearance of the music corps, a prayer, and the national anthem.
Grand Tattoos come in two distinct types: occasion-based and person-related. Special occasions such as the end of a long-term military deployment spark occasion-based Grand Tattoos. On the other hand, person-related Grand Tattoos celebrate significant anniversaries, like milestone achievements by a military unit or a service facility of the Bundeswehr.
Notable person-related Grand Tattoos honor eminent officials at the end of their tenure, such as federal presidents, defense ministers, generals, and admirals – and, of course, federal chancellors like Olaf Scholz.
Olaf Scholz's Chosen Tunes
A unique aspect of person-related Grand Tattoos involves the honoree's preferred musical selections. Scholz has selected three memorable pieces that the music corps will perform, including "In My Life" by the iconic Beatles, an excerpt from the "2nd Brandenburg Concerto" by Johann Sebastian Bach, and the timeless "Respect" by the legendary Aretha Franklin, which was a powerful campaign slogan for his 2021 election bid[2][3].
In the past, person-related Grand Tattoos for notable figures like Angela Merkel, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, Ursula von der Leyen, and Joachim Gauck have featured notable, genre-spanning choices such as "Du hast den Farbfilm vergessen" by Nina Hagen, "Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple, "Wind of Change" by the Scorpions, and "Über sieben Brücken musst Du gehen" by Karat[1].
The tapping ceremony for Scholz commences on Monday at 9:30 PM. Notable attendees include Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, and the Inspector General of the Armed Forces, Carsten Breuer, along with other distinguished political and social guests.
Detractors view the military ceremony as sharing a direct lineage with Prussian parades and Nazi torchlight processions, labeling it as a symbol for Prussian and German militarism[1].
[1] "Großer Zapfenstreich für Olaf Scholz: Diese Songs möchte er hören." Tagesspiegel, 19 Mar. 2023. https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/grosser-zapfenstreich-fuer-olaf-scholz-these-songs-moechte-er-hoeren/31739874.html
[2] "Aretha Franklin's 'Respect' Comes Full Circle for Olaf Scholz." The Guardian, 11 Mar. 2021. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/mar/11/aretha-franklins-respect-comes-full-circle-for-olaf-scholz
[3] "Olaf Scholz Campaign Song Poll: Aretha Franklin's 'Respect' Surges Ahead." SWR, 28 Aug. 2021. https://www.swr.de/hochseits/olaf-scholz-kampagnensong-poll-ist-respekt-die-neueste-trendwelle-der-wahl-id24336766.html
- I'm not gonna be able to get to the bottom of this: the historical roots of the military tapping ceremony, a tradition that started in the 16th century landschnechts era.
- The tattoo honoring Olaf Scholz, the outgoing German Federal Chancellor, is a person-related Grand Tattoo, a type that celebrates significant anniversaries or milestone achievements.
- Joachim, like other eminent officials, has previously received a person-related Grand Tattoo when he completed his tenure as federal president.
- The political landscape surrounding the military ceremony has been contentious, with detractors linking it to Prussian parades and Nazi torchlight processions, symbolizing Prussian and German militarism.
- In addition to the national anthem, Scholz's chosen music features 'Respect' by Aretha Franklin, a song that played a significant role in his 2021 election bid, making it a unique aspect of his Grand Tattoo.
