Interesting that WW2 seems to have actually increased the rate of height increase in Germany, vis a vis Australia where it obviously had the opposite effect (I assume)...
Different selection pressures, I suppose.
I know we got dicked over by rationing a bit (compared to the US, for example), but I very much doubt that would have had as much of an effect as the bombing and occupation of the whole of Germany, lol...
Would be interesting to have a breakdown of East Germany vs West, though, rather than just the total, for that period, because I suspect that might differ quite substantially...
On this note, even though Scandinavia is obviously closely interrelated, I noticed a substantial difference in appearance between Danes versus Norwegians/Swedes. Danes are, generally, shorter, stockier and, I guess, less "blonde-looking". Both women and men.
Which is interesting, considering the history of those regions, and historic intermingling. It's interesting that it is still noticeable, even though Sweden is now almost as urbanised/cosmopolitan as Denmark is.
Same as how I can generally tell the difference (most of the time) between Aussies and New Zealanders. Although an outsider might struggle more with that, I guess...
The data for East and West Germany should be easily extracted from their respective 40 years of mandatory military service. Just got to find the right records.
Interesting that WW2 seems to have actually increased the rate of height increase in Germany, vis a vis Australia where it obviously had the opposite effect (I assume)...
Different selection pressures, I suppose.
I know we got dicked over by rationing a bit (compared to the US, for example), but I very much doubt that would have had as much of an effect as the bombing and occupation of the whole of Germany, lol...
Would be interesting to have a breakdown of East Germany vs West, though, rather than just the total, for that period, because I suspect that might differ quite substantially...
I read that the Dutch are now the tallest people in the world and it's no co-incidence they also have the highest intake of dairy products
Yeah, I mean I don't know about the dairy bit, but the Dutch have been the tallest in the world, on average, for some 200 years or so, I believe...
Good nutrition is definitely a huge part of that, so you're right in that regard!
But I think the "West Germanic" ethnicity probably also trends towards height, at least in recent centuries...
Seems to peter out when you get towards Western/Southern France, and the UK, though!
The Zulu/Pygmy Dichotomy is a strange one given their proximity
On this note, even though Scandinavia is obviously closely interrelated, I noticed a substantial difference in appearance between Danes versus Norwegians/Swedes. Danes are, generally, shorter, stockier and, I guess, less "blonde-looking". Both women and men.
Which is interesting, considering the history of those regions, and historic intermingling. It's interesting that it is still noticeable, even though Sweden is now almost as urbanised/cosmopolitan as Denmark is.
Same as how I can generally tell the difference (most of the time) between Aussies and New Zealanders. Although an outsider might struggle more with that, I guess...
The data for East and West Germany should be easily extracted from their respective 40 years of mandatory military service. Just got to find the right records.
Anecdotal evidence: I see no difference between people who were born in East Germany, to me and my Western friends.
We are (almost) all taller than our fathers though. Fathers born in 50s, we in 80s.
There's an obvious angle but I don't know if it's accurate. How tall were the Jews?