Being located in the center of Europe, Germany has had a great influence on sports and physical education. John Bernard Basedow took a very liberal approach to sports and included it in the curriculum. Gymnastics was a very popular sport, Guts Muths, the grandfather of gymnastics, used it in a scientific method and included swimming and other sports in it. This experiment was quite successful and people started encouraging their children to participate. Later, this method was taken forward by Frederick John and Adolph Speiss and they kept trying to popularize sports science like mathematics and language. As a result of his efforts, sports science was started as a compulsory subject in 1860.
History of Germany
Table of Contents
Germany has been quite commendable in the field of physical education, experts have divided German history into 4 parts –
- Period between 18th and 19th century
- Mid-19th century to Nazi period
- Physical education during the Nazi period (1933–1945)
- time after the Second World War
Period between 18th and 19th century
This period has again been divided into four parts by history experts.
- Time of John Bernard Basedow (1713-1790 AD)
- John Christopher Frederick Guts-Muths (by 1759-1839 AD)
- Frederick Ludwik John (1778-1852 AD)
- Adolf Spies (1810-1858 AD)
Time of John Bernard Basedow (1713-1790 AD)
John Bernard Basedow is called the father of modern physical education in Germany. Before coming to Germany, John Bernard was a teacher of physical education in Denmark. John Bernard Basedow incorporated his Danish experiences into German physical education and developed physical education in Germany. John Bernard Basedow did the following work for the development of physical education in Germany –
In 1774 AD, John Bernard Basedow started a naturalist school at Dessah, which he named Philanthropinum. Its foundation was laid on the ideology of Rousseau.
John Simon was the first physical teacher of this school, who kept the students busy in the school through gymnastics, entertainment, and physical activities.
John Christopher Frederick Guts-Muths (by 1759-1839 AD)
Guts Muths is called the father of German gymnastics. Guts Mathes replaced Christian Carl Andre as instructor of physical education at Salzmann’s school around 1786 and served for several years. Guts Maths also invented many types of physical activities such as climbing rope stairs, swimming, wrestling, and activities related to balancing. In his physical education program, he described long-distance walking as a good means of physical training.
Achievements
Guts Mathes wrote two books, Games and Gymnastic for the Young.
Gymnastics for the Young was published in two parts. In the first part, the effect and purpose of exercise were explained, and in the second part, activities related to running, throwing, jumping, rope climbing, walking, dancing, wrestling, and balancing were explained. In the book Khel Namak, 105 entertaining games have been explained in detail.
Frederick Ludwik John (1778-1852 AD)
Frederick Ludwik John popularized and spread physical education as a means of unity in Germany. Friedrich Ludvik John taught at Plamann’s Boys School and the Grau Kloster in Berlin. Frederick Ludwik John’s time in Germany was quite a struggle. Frederick Ludwik John has the following achievements in the field of education-
In 1811 AD, Frederick Ludvik John built a rectangular-shaped exercise area which he named Turnplaz, which means gymnasium. Gradually the number of people exercising in Turnplaas started increasing. The people exercising in this were named Turner.
In 1812, Germany approved their exercises, resulting in the formation of youth exercise groups in large cities and towns—the promotion of physical activities spread throughout Germany.
In 1816, Frederick Ludwik John wrote a book titled German Gymnastic.
Adolf Spies (1810-1858 AD)
Adolf Spies’ aim was to make physical exercise an important part of general education. He wanted to create an exercise system that could be easily used in schools. Adolf Spies also prepared a program of physical training for physical teachers. In 1848, gymnastic exercises were recognized as a part of education.
achievement-
In 1833–1848, Adolf Spiess also wrote the books System of Gymnastic and Practical Manual for Schools.
Mid-19th century to Nazi period
In 1851, the Royal Central Institute of Gymnastics was founded in Berlin. Von Rothstein was made the first director of this institute. Von Rothstein was a military officer who was given the responsibility by the German government to introduce Swedish gymnastics to Sweden at the Royal Central Institute of Gymnastics. In this institute, soldiers and physical teachers were trained together. In 1860, gymnastics was introduced into primary and high schools, responsibility for which was given to Parousia. In 1862, gymnastics was made compulsory for all children in Germany.
Physical education in Germany reached new heights through the efforts of D. Carl Diem, who was made the director of the 1936 Olympic Games in Germany. It was he who started the practice of the torch race in the Olympic Games. Due to his guidance and efforts, Germany got third place in the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
Physical education during the Nazi period (1933–1945)
After the First World War, the Nazi Party took over the responsibility of governance in Germany and gave physical education on its ideals. The control of the Nazi Party was in the hands of Adolf Hitler. This party was also known as the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSGW). Hitler joined the Nazi Party in 1919. This party was earlier known as the German Workers’ Party. Hitler ruled Germany from January 30, 1933, until 1945, the year of World War II. On January 30, 1933, German President Paul von Hindenburg administered the oath of office to Hitler as Chancellor. After Hindenburg’s death in 1934, he ruled all of Germany as a dictator. The 1936 Berlin Olympics were organized during Hitler’s rule. During the Nazi era, physical education was under the control of the government. The Nazi Party formed an organization named Hitler Youth in 1933, in which initially about 30% of the youth had taken membership and by 1939, about 80% of the youth had joined this organization.
Time after the Second World War
Germany was divided into two parts after World War 2.
1- East Germany, which followed its own ideals. Physical education was well managed in East Germany and was included in the curriculum as a compulsory subject. Every person needed to exercise once a week. In 1947, Carl Diem established the Academy of Physical Education in Cologne, Germany.
2- West Germany- based on American and European ideals.