The division was named for Friedrich Ludwig Jahn, a German gymnastics teacher and nationalist of the early 19th century.

[3] Command later passed to Gerhard Klein, who held his post until captured by Soviet forces on 23 April.

Franz Weller subsequently held the command from 24 April until 3 May, before Ludwig Zöller took over from 3 May until the end of the war.

[5] The division was initially assembled in Jüterbog, to the southwest of Germany's capital city Berlin.

It reached the Elbe river near Ferchland, where it surrendered to United States Army forces.