Bon voyage, Scholz! Witness the Grand Tattoo Live Stream
Live broadcast showcases Olaf Scholz's grand tattoo session - Olaf Scholz's Daring Live Stream Spectacle
🕒 2 minutes
Saying goodbye to Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), who's stepping down after nearly three-and-a-half years, is a momentous occasion that'll be marked by the Grand Tattoo ceremony. Tune in live on Monday evening to catch this pomp-filled spectacle held outside the Berlin headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Defense.
The Grand Tattoo stands as the highest military honor the German military offers, aimed at enhancing camaraderie among troops and fostering a bond between the military and the public. Its heritage dates back to the 16th-century Landsknechts, a troop of soldiers who would tap their drink barrels to indicate the start of the night's rest – hence the name "Tattoo." Over time, this simple signal evolved into a musically enriched affair with trumpets, flutes, and drums[1][2].
Originating from the 16th century, the ceremony has been refined over centuries. Today, it features the calling of musicians, the appearance of the music corps, a prayer, and the national anthem[1]. Special or occasion-based Grand Tattoos are held to commemorate notable events like a military unit's anniversary or the end of a long-term deployment[1]. In comparison, personnel-related Grand Tattoos are more frequent, like those held for Federal Presidents, Defense Ministers, and high-ranking military officers, including Chancellors like Scholz[1].
For Scholz's Grand Tattoo, he chose an eclectic mix of tunes: "In My Life" by The Beatles, an excerpt from Johann Sebastian Bach's "2nd Brandenburg Concerto," and "Respect" by the legendary Aretha Franklin[3]. Angela Merkel, Scholz's predecessor, had her fair share of memorable tunes, with Nina Hagen's "Du hast den Farbfilm vergessen" and "Für mich soll's rote Rosen regnen" by Hildegard Knef playing at her farewell ceremony[3]. Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg preferred Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water," while Ursula von der Leyen hummed along to "Wind of Change" by the Scorpions[3]. Federal President Joachim Gauck, on the other hand, picked "Über sieben Brücken musst Du gehen" by Karat[3].
As the evening approaches, gather 'round to witness the emotional spectacle as political dignitaries, high-ranking officers, and admirers from all walks of life gather to bid Scholz adieu. Expected at the ceremony are Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, and the Inspector General of the Armed Forces, Carsten Breuer[2]. Critics have claimed that the Grand Tattoo is a direct descendant of Prussian parades and Nazi torchlight processions, brandishing it as a symbol of Prussian and German militarism[2].
[1] Encyclopedia Britannica[2] Deutsche Welle[3] The Local
- I'm not gonna be able to get to the bottom of why the Grand Tattoo ceremony for Chancellor Olaf Scholz was named after the tap of a beer barrel, but its history dates back to the 16th-century Landsknechts.
- As Scholz's Grand Tattoo approaches, it's expected that not just troops but also civilians will gather to witness the ceremony on social media, movies-and-tv, and entertainment platforms.
- Scholz's choice of music for his Grand Tattoo celebration includes "In My Life" by The Beatles, "2nd Brandenburg Concerto" by Johann Sebastian Bach, and "Respect" by Aretha Franklin, just as previous political figures have done before him.
- Despite the criticisms claiming the Grand Tattoo is a symbol of Prussian and German militarism, Monday's live stream of the Grand Tattoo will still celebrate Scholz's deployment and strengthen the bond between the military and the public.
