Big tap stroke live: Olaf Scholz ‘farewell in the live stream

At the end of his almost three and a half year term as Chancellor, Olaf Scholz (SPD) was adopted by the Bundeswehr on Monday evening with the large tap prank in front of the Berlin office of the Federal Department of Defense.

The approximately one -hour ceremony is the highest form of military manners of German soldiers. The large tap is intended to consolidate the cohesion of the troop and strengthen the connection between the Bundeswehr and the population.

The ceremony has a tradition that goes far into military history. Their origins lie in the time of the landing servants of the 16th century. At that time, a troop leader in inns and taverns announced the beginning of the night’s sleep with a prank on the cones of the beverage drums – hence the name “Zapfenstreich”. After that, the hosts were no longer allowed to serve the soldiers. Over the centuries, this signal was musically enriched by trumpet, flute and drum play.

The ceremonial was created in its current form in the early 19th century in the period of the wars of liberation when the ritual was supplemented by a short evening song and then also a prayer. The Bundeswehr’s large tapping of the Bundeswehr today consists of the “lure” of the player, the appearance of the music corps, a prayer and the national anthem.

There are large taps. The latter take place on special occasions such as the end of a long -term Bundeswehr operation. Course -related taps in special anniversaries are more common if, for example, a military unit or a Bundeswehr department commits a round anniversary.

The publicly known personal taps are held in a significantly larger scale. Well -deserved officials are honored at the end of the service. This includes Federal President, Federal Defense Minister, Bundeswehr Generals and Admirals – and Chancellor.

A special feature of personal large taps are the three pieces of music that the honored and which plays the music corps. Scholz desired “In My Life” by the Beatles, an excerpt from the “2nd Brandenburg concert” by Johann Sebastian Bach and “Respect” by Aretha Franklin.

At Scholz’s predecessor Angela Merkel (CDU), the GDR hit “You forgot the color film” by Nina Hagen and “It should rain red roses” by Hildegard Knef for me. Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg (CSU) chose “Smoke on the Water” by Deep Purple, his follow-up successor Ursula von der Leyen (CDU) “Wind of Change” from the Scorpions. Federal President Joachim Gauck wished “you have to go about seven bridges” by Karat.

The big tap for Scholz begins on Monday at 9:30 p.m. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, also Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) and the general inspector of the Bundeswehr, Carsten Breuer is expected. In addition, other high -ranking guests from politics and society should come.

Critics of the great tapping of the tap see the military ceremonial in the immediate tradition of Prussian parades and Hitler’s torchlight trains. They speak of a symbol of Prussian and German militarism.