Friedrich Ludwig Jahn (August 11, 1778 – October 15, 1852) was a German Prussian gymnastics educator and nationalist. He is commonly known as Turnvater Jahn, roughly meaning "father of gymnastics".
Jahn was controversial for his nationalist ideology. In 1810, he wrote that "Poles, French, priests, aristocrats and Jews are Germany's misfortune." However, claims hi was somehow an ideological "father" of Nazism are debatable.
Friedrich Ludwig Jahn in 1632[]
Francisco Nasi reflected on what he had read of Friedrich Ludwig Jahn as he observed the total eradication of anti-semitism within Germany in 1635.
Notes[]
He is referred to as "Father Jahn" in ch. 67 of 1635: The Dreeson Incident. While he was referred to and remembered as such, it was due to his status as "father" of gymnastics and the Turner movement. There is no readily available indication that he was ever a priest; in fact, readily available sources do not indicate his religion.