Jakob Hudson Nacken or Jacob Nacken (February 15, 1906 – March 29, 1987) was a German circus

performer active in Europe and the United States. He began his career as an exceptionally tall person
while a teenager, performing in a traveling circus, and appeared in the 1939 New York World's Fair.
Nacken was the tallest soldier in the German Army during World War II at a height of seven feet
three inches (2.21 m). He was employed as a giant Santa Claus and appeared on American television
as a figure of high stature and in freak shows as the World's Tallest Man.

Early life

Nacken was born in Düsseldorf, Germany, on February 15, 1906.[1] Both his parents were six feet
two inches (1.88 m). His sister Josephine was six feet two inches (1.88 m) tall; his two-years-younger
brother Wilhelm grew to be six feet two inches (1.88 m) tall; his other brother, who was eight years
younger than Nacken, became six feet seven inches (2.01 m).[2]

Mid-life and career

Nacken began his career in show business performing as "Uranus" and the "giant from the
Rhineland" in a German traveling circus. He was called Germany's tallest man[3][4] and was credited
as being the world's tallest man at the time.[5][6] Nacken wore size 17 boots as an adult.[7] He had
bruises on his head from hitting the tops of doorways that were built to accommodate people of
normal height.[8]

He appeared at Luna Park, an amusement park in Paris, in 1922. Nacken was internationally known
for his height of seven feet three inches (2.21 m) and earned an engagement at the 1939 New York
World's Fair.[9]

He returned to Germany at the beginning of World War II and was immediately drafted into the
army, becoming their tallest soldier on record.[10][11][12] Nacken was put into a gun crew with 250
soldiers who were captured at Calais, France, in August 1944.[13][14] British Corporal Bob Roberts (5
feet 3 inches (1.60 m)), who commanded a troop of seven men, captured the gun crew.[15] Nacken
and his men were taken to England as prisoners of war and remained there until the end of the war.
[15][7]

In August 1949, newspapers announced Nacken was to return to the United States because he
wanted to leave post-war Germany.[16] Nacken's sister, who already lived in the United States,
prepared a place for him and his wife to live in Paterson, New Jersey.[17] Nacken and his wife
emigrated to the United States on SS Atlantic from Genoa, Italy,[1] arriving in the port of New York
City December 6, 1950.[1][18]

Nacken sought work that would suit his stature. Through newspaper pictures and Pathé newsreels,
he was well-known. During December 1949, he worked as Santa Claus.[19][20] Children were able to
walk between his legs[21][22] and he was dubbed the world's tallest Santa.[23][24] Nacken worked
in Ripley's Believe It or Not! shows as the "World's Tallest Man".[25] He appeared on several
television shows as a celebrity known as "Germany's Long Jake".[26]

Personal life

On August 10, 1927, Nacken married Maria from Kematen an der Ybbs, Austria, in Brussels, Belgium.
[1] She stood five feet eight inches (1.73 m) tall.[25]

He became a citizen of the United States on December 16, 1955.[24]

Later life and death

Nacken's last appearance as "World's Tallest Man" was in 1959 at Ripley's Odditorium on Broadway,
New York City. He died in Europe at age 81.[27]