Angela Merkel: Songs by Hildegard Knef and Nina Hagen at the Great Zapfenstreich

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Angela Merkel doing a tattoo for ex-Federal President Christian Wulff (photo from 2012)

Photo: Hannibal Hanschke / dpa

Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) wants to make her departure unusually emotional.

For the big tattoo of the Bundeswehr in the courtyard of the Ministry of Defense in Berlin next Thursday evening, Merkel has chosen Hildegard Knef's musical contribution "For me it should rain red roses".

In addition to the German hymn "Great God, we praise you", the staff music corps of the Bundeswehr is also rehearsing the song "You forgot the color film", with which Nina Hagen had a hit in 1974 in the GDR.

Due to the Corona regulations, the tattoo for Merkel is taking place in a much smaller format than usual with around 200 guests. All 52 federal ministers from her reign and other companions are invited.

The usual reception in the Bendlerblock casino does not take place.

According to the current plan, the Chancellor will sit down and hold the ceremony and give a short speech.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Defense Minister until 2019, will probably not be able to come to Merkel's farewell: that day, she invited heads of state to a South American summit.

Von der Leyen wanted the Scorpions to have a "Wind of Change" for her tattoo when she left the Defense Minister.

Merkel's predecessors in office also selected three pieces of music for their farewells, as did the outgoing Chancellor.

In 2005, Gerhard Schröder had »Summertime« from the opera »Porgy and Bess« played, followed by »Moritat von Mackie Messer«, known from Bertolt Brecht's »Threepenny Opera«.

Most recently, a trumpeter performed Frank Sinatra's "My Way".

When Helmut Kohl was adopted as Federal Chancellor in 1998, he had the chorale “Now all thanks to God” played the “Ode to Joy” by Ludwig van Beethoven against the backdrop of the old imperial cathedral in Speyer.