A 500-pound bear that "fought" alongside his Polish comrades in World War II will be honored with a statue in Edinburgh, Scotland. ‘Private Wojtek’ was a 6-ft-tall Syrian brown bear that was adopted by a Polish regiment in the Middle East. When the Poles received orders to advance on Rome, the British told them that animals or pets were not allowed to accompany them. In response to that, the bear was enlisted into the 22nd Transport Division (Artillery Supply) of the Polish 2nd Army Corps as ‘Private Wojtek.’ The Polish name ‘Wojtek’ (pronounced ‘Voytek’) means ‘he who enjoys war’ or ‘smiling warrior.’
Polish soldiers come across a boy holding a sack in Iran
It was during the trip through Iran that the Polish soldiers came across a young boy holding a large cloth sack. The boy looked hungry, so the men gave him some of their provisions. After giving him some food, the Poles asked the boy what was in the sack. He opened it--and to the soldiers’ surprise--they saw a tiny, undernourished brown bear cub. Either the Poles gave the boy some money, or he just gave the bear to the soldiers. The tiny bear was fed condensed milk from an ersatz bottle and kept warm in an old washing bowl that also served as his bed.
Wojtek smoked cigarettes and drank beer
The bear was named Wojtek and became the mascot of the Polish division. Growing quickly, the bear was a welcome diversion from the daily horrors of war. Taking on human characteristics, Wojtek would cry when left alone and cover his eyes when scolded. He picked up some bad human habits–cigarettes and beer--which made him more of a comrade to the men. Wojek enjoyed his cigarettes, which he ate as well as smoked. He gave the men countless hours of pleasure, wrestling with them, getting himself stuck up in a palm tree, and even capturing an Arab sent to spy on the Polish division.
Bear captures Arab spy in shower
When the weather got hot, Wojtek figured out how to turn on the shower and was found showering so often that the hut had to be locked to preserve the water supply. One day, when it was unlocked, the bear opened the door to take a refreshing shower--and found an Arab spying on his comrades. Not expecting to find a bear confronting him, the spy confessed all. He was part of a raiding party that was planning to take all of the weapons and ammo. The raiding party was captured and Wojtek was a hero. Their 500-pound comrade was rewarded with two bottles of beer and splashed happily in the showers all morning.
Officially given a name, rank (private) and serial number, Wojtek arrived with his Polish II Corps comrades in Italy in 1944. When the men marched on a mission, the bear would stand up on his hind legs and march along side them. During the battle for the monastery of Monte Cassino, Wojtek traveled in the munitions trucks, hanging his large head out the window.
Bravery and fame during Battle of Monte Cassino
His most famous and daring exploit was during the Battle of Monte Cassino. During the fighting, Wojtek volunteered to carry boxes of ammunition shells from supply trucks to the front line--or passed them down to other soldiers who formed a line from the trucks to the front line. He inspired his fellow soldiers and they change the official insignia of the 22nd Artillery to Wojtek carrying ammunition.
Wojtek and company moved to Scotland
After the war, Wojtek and his company were transferred to Winfield camp near Hutton in Berwickshire, Scotland. The Poles did not want to return to their country, which was now under the control of the Red Army and the Soviet Union. Wojtek was moved to the Edinburgh Zoo in 1947 and lived there until he died in 1963 at the age of 22.
Wojtek’s legacy
Aileen Orr is the author of the book, Wojtek the Bear: Polish War Hero. She had visited him when eight years old with a Polish friend. When he heard the friend speaking Polish, he excitedly waved to the two children. Ms. Orr’s grandfather served in the war and had met Wojtek a few times. She said that her grandfather didn’t like discussing the war, but would talk about the big brown bear.
“He met the bear…and it made a great impression on him,” said Ms. Orr. “What the bear offered all of these men was comfort. At a time when they were far from home, had nothing, and often no-one, Wojtek stood in for the wives, children, pets, family they’d left behind.”
Sources
“The Badass of the Week. Voytek the Soldier Bear.”
Eric Brothers - Eric Brothers' forthcoming book,The Berlin Ghetto, will be published by The History Press in the U.K. in 2012.
