Farewell for the former Federal Defence Minister
Federal Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer has bid farewell to her predecessor Ursula von der Leyen with a military tattoo in Berlin. Chancellor Angela Merkel also attended.
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Military tattoo in honour of former Federal Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen (centre). She was given an official farewell in Berlin by her successor Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (at right).
Photo: Bundesregierung/Bergmann
Ursula von der Leyen served as Federal Defence Minister from December 2013 to July 2019. She was the first woman to hold this post.
Official ceremony
At Berlin’s Bendlerblock, Federal Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer gave Ursula von der Leyen a farewell military tattoo in Berlin in the presence of Chancellor Angela Merkel. Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer took over as Defence Minister when Ursula von der Leyen was elected President of the European Commission in July. She is expected to take up her new post in Brussels on 1 November.
The official military tattoo is the highest military ceremony in the Bundeswehr and follows a strict sequence, with musical elements and military ceremony. The individual being honoured is traditionally asked to select three pieces of music. One piece chosen by Ursula von der Leyen, a native of Hannover, was "Wind of Change" originally sung by the Hannover rock band "Scorpions".
The military tattoo, or Große Zapfenstreich, takes place on very special occasions to honour individuals for their service to the Bundeswehr. The ceremony has a long military tradition and follows a strict sequence with musical elements and military ceremony.