This is what the Leibniz Ring looks like for Bundeswehr General Jens Arlt
On December 6th, Jens Arlt (52), commander of the Bundeswehr air brigade, was to receive the Leibniz Ring in the Leineschloss – but due to the corona, the gala will be postponed to the coming spring. Andrea Spielmeyer (43) also has to wait for the big moment. At her workbench in Bramsche (Osnabrück), the piece of jewelery that was presented by the Hanover Press Club on November 30th was created.
She remembers the dramatic summer days when the news broadcasts overflowed with reports from Kabul that the Taliban had come to power. “We all trembled too,” says the master goldsmith. Jens Arlt was the man of the hour, as the commander of the evacuation mission, he and his soldiers took 5,347 people to freedom over the airlift. A number that can be found in one half of the Leibniz Ring. A second engraving – “A400M” – stands for the massive transport machine that was used.
Leibniz-Ring should stand for all soldiers
Spielmeyer has based the design on the identification tags of the Bundeswehr, which are worn in combat service and are used for identification in the event of death. The ring is customized for Arlts Finger – “but I wanted every soldier to be able to find a little bit in it,” explains the 43-year-old about the 925 silver piece of jewelry. “It should appear puristic.”
In the past few years, temeyer has submitted designs or finished rings to the press club every now and then. This year it prevailed against eleven competitors. Previous winners were, for example, actress Maria Furtwängler (55), ex-President of the Bundestag Rita Süssmuth (84), Teresa Enke (45), singer Peter Maffay (72), UN chief inspector Hans Blix (93).
“Hundreds of my colleagues took part in Klaus Meine and submitted rings,” she knows about the year 2018, when the Scorpions front man was honored. Around the announcement of the winning design, she was “very fidgety” this year as well. “When the decisive call was made, hands were shaking. It’s a great honor.”
Ceremonial awarding of the Leibniz Ring in spring 2022
She will be the guest of honor at the award ceremony. However, not until the spring of 2022. The 24th Leibniz-Ring should have a fixed framework, was therefore relocated: The laudation WILL be given by ZDF newswoman Bettina Schausten (56), Bundestag Vice President Wolfgang Kubicki (69) is one of the speakers, Lower Saxony’s Minister Stephan Weil (62) is the patron.
By Andrea Tratner