Hans Ferdinand Massmann (german: Maßmann; 15 August 1797 – 3 August 1874) was a German

philologist Philology () is the study of language in oral and written historical sources; it is the intersection of textual criticism, literary criticism, history, and linguistics (with especially strong ties to etymology). Philology is also defined as th ...

, known for his studies in

Old German Old High German (OHG; german: Althochdeutsch (Ahd.)) is the earliest stage of the German language, conventionally covering the period from around 750 to 1050. There is no standardised or supra-regional form of German at this period, and Old High ...

language Language is a structured system of communication. The structure of a language is its grammar and the free components are its vocabulary. Languages are the primary means by which humans communicate, and may be conveyed through a variety of met ...

and

literature Literature is any collection of written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially prose fiction, drama, and poetry. In recent centuries, the definition has expanded to include ...

, and for his work introducing

gymnastics Gymnastics is a type of sport that includes physical exercises requiring balance, strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, dedication and endurance. The movements involved in gymnastics contribute to the development of the arms, legs, shou ...

into schools in Prussia.

Biography

Massmann was born in

Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...

Margraviate of Brandenburg The Margraviate of Brandenburg (german: link=no, Markgrafschaft Brandenburg) was a major principality of the Holy Roman Empire from 1157 to 1806 that played a pivotal role in the history of Germany and Central Europe. Brandenburg developed out o ...

, where he also studied. He served in the

War of Liberation Wars of national liberation or national liberation revolutions are conflicts fought by nations to gain independence. The term is used in conjunction with wars against foreign powers (or at least those perceived as foreign) to establish separat ...

, was a member of the

Jena Jena () is a German city and the second largest city in Thuringia. Together with the nearby cities of Erfurt and Weimar, it forms the central metropolitan area of Thuringia with approximately 500,000 inhabitants, while the city itself has a popu ...

'' Burschenschaft'', and was present at the Wartburg festival of 1817, where he participated in the book burning. In Berlin, he had been a friend and a pupil of Jahn. His radical ideas and "demagogue" sympathies brought him into difficulties with the authorities. In 1826, he became the teacher in charge of gymnastics at the Royal Gymnastic Institute of

Munich Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the States of Germany, German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the List of cities in Germany by popu ...

. Initially his duties included military cadets. Later his duties were extended to a public outdoor exercise facility (german: Turnanstalt) which was to serve all the schools in the city. Later he was also chosen

professor Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an Academy, academic rank at university, universities and other post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin as a "person who pr ...

of Old German Literature at the

university A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States, t ...

. In 1841, he went to Berlin to confer with Minister Eichhorn regarding the revival of physical training in Prussia. Eichhorn later spoke with

Adolf Spiess Karl Adolf Spieß (3 February 18109 May 1858) was a German gymnast and educator who contributed to the development of school gymnastics for children of both sexes in Switzerland and Germany. Biography Father Spiess's father, Johann Balthasar S ...

, a citizen of

Hesse Hesse (, , ) or Hessia (, ; german: Hessen ), officially the State of Hessen (german: links=no, Land Hessen), is a States of Germany, state in Germany. Its capital city is Wiesbaden, and the largest urban area is Frankfurt. Two other major histor ...

who had been directing such programs in Burgdorf, Switzerland. In 1842, Massmann was chosen to implement the plans developed, a position which he resigned in 1851. During this time, he accepted the Chair (academic), chair of Germanic philology at the Humboldt University of Berlin, city university. He died in Muskau in Lusatia.

Works

Massmann's writings include editions of ''Deutsche Gedichte des 12 Jahrhunderts'' (1837–42); Gottfried von Strassburg, Gottfried's ''Tristan and Iseult'' (1843); ''Kaiserchronik'' (1849–53); of the biblical translations of the Gothic bishop Ulfilas (1855–56) and of Tacitus's ''Germania (book), Germania'' (1847). He was also the author of ''Geschichte des mittelalterlichen Schachspiels'' (1839) and ''Litteratur der Totentänze'' (1840).

Notes

References

* * This source gives 1843 as the date he took charge of gymnastics in Berlin. * 1797 births 1874 deaths German philologists German gymnasts Germanic studies scholars German military personnel of the Napoleonic Wars Writers from Berlin People from the Margraviate of Brandenburg Academic staff of the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich Academic staff of the Humboldt University of Berlin German male writers People from Bad Muskau {{Germany-linguist-stub

Biography

Works

Further reading

Notes

References