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 into schools in Prussia.

Biography

Massmann was born in Berlin, Margraviate of Brandenburg, where he also studied. He served in the War of the Sixth Coalition, War of Liberation, was a member of the University of Jena, Jena ''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 Friedrich Ludwig Jahn, 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. 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 of Old German Literature at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, university. 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, a citizen of Grand Duchy of Hesse, Hesse 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