Massmann was born in
Berlin,
Margraviate of Brandenburg, where he also studied. He served in the
War of Liberation, was a member of the
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
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 () which was to serve all the schools in the city. Later he was also chosen
professor of Old German Literature at the
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
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 of Germanic
philology at the
city university. He died in
Muskau in
Lusatia. ==Works==