During World War II, the Polish army had an unusual soldier… a 500-pound bear named Wojtek.
Found as an orphaned cub in Iran in 1942, Polish soldiers raised him like one of their own. He wrestled with the troops, slept in their tents, and even developed strange habits like drinking beer and trying cigarettes.
When the unit had to sail to Italy, British ships had a strict “no pets” rule. So the soldiers officially enlisted Wojtek as a Private, giving him a serial number and paybook so he could travel with them.
During the Battle of Monte Cassino, Wojtek even helped carry heavy crates of artillery shells to the front lines while the soldiers were under fire.
He later became the symbol of the 22nd Artillery Supply Company and was promoted to Corporal after the war.
Found as an orphaned cub in Iran in 1942, Polish soldiers raised him like one of their own. He wrestled with the troops, slept in their tents, and even developed strange habits like drinking beer and trying cigarettes.
When the unit had to sail to Italy, British ships had a strict “no pets” rule. So the soldiers officially enlisted Wojtek as a Private, giving him a serial number and paybook so he could travel with them.
During the Battle of Monte Cassino, Wojtek even helped carry heavy crates of artillery shells to the front lines while the soldiers were under fire.
He later became the symbol of the 22nd Artillery Supply Company and was promoted to Corporal after the war.
During World War II, the Polish army had an unusual soldier… a 500-pound bear named Wojtek.
Found as an orphaned cub in Iran in 1942, Polish soldiers raised him like one of their own. He wrestled with the troops, slept in their tents, and even developed strange habits like drinking beer and trying cigarettes.
When the unit had to sail to Italy, British ships had a strict “no pets” rule. So the soldiers officially enlisted Wojtek as a Private, giving him a serial number and paybook so he could travel with them.
During the Battle of Monte Cassino, Wojtek even helped carry heavy crates of artillery shells to the front lines while the soldiers were under fire.
He later became the symbol of the 22nd Artillery Supply Company and was promoted to Corporal after the war.
