Wojtek the Bear: Polish War Hero

The "hilarious and moving" true story of one of the Second World War's most unusual combatants—a 500-pound cigarette-smoking, beer-drinking brown bear (Scotsman).

Purchased as an orphaned cub by a Polish solider in Iran in 1942, and eventually adopted as a mascot by the Polish Army, Wojtek the Bear took on a more practical role as he grew, carrying heavy mortar rounds for the troops and going on to play his part as a fully enlisted "soldier" with his own rank and number during the Italian campaign. His service at Monte Cassino even earned him a promotion from private to corporal.

After the war, Wojtek, along with some of his Polish compatriots from II Corps, came to Berwickshire, Scotland, where he became a significant member of the local community before subsequently moving to Edinburgh Zoo. Wojtek's retirement was far from quiet: a potent symbol of freedom and solidarity for Poles around the world—he attracted a huge amount of media interest, and to this day he is honored with multiple monuments and in the emblem of the 22nd Artillery Supply Company. This is his remarkable story.