Nicknamed “Turnvater”, Frederich Jahn was a German nationalist and the father of gymnastics. He developed early forms of the balance beam and vaulting horse. For a period of time, after his death, he was claimed to be a founding father of Nazism. This concept would later be debated and discouraged.

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Original text: [cpt_field code=”sculpture-date”]Jahn organized the Turnverein, a gymnastics association, which became centers for German nationalism in the 19th century. He was later elected to the German Parliament.