24/05/2025
During World War II, Polish soldiers adopted a Syrian brown bear named Wojtek (pronounced Voy-tek), who became an official private in the Polish Army!
🪖🐻 Wojtek was adopted in 1942 by the Polish II Corps in the Middle East. He lived, marched, and even slept alongside the soldiers. 🎖️ To resolve issues with military bureaucracy, he was officially enlisted as a soldier, with his own rank and serial number.
💥 During the Battle of Monte Cassino in Italy, Wojtek famously carried crates of ammunition, mimicking what he saw the soldiers doing. During night shifts, he would walk alongside the guards, joining each patrol change throughout the night.
🚿 When his unit was moved to Iraq, the hot climate was tough on everyone, especially for a furry bear. To keep him cool, soldiers dug a pit for him and poured water over him. Eventually, Wojtek learned to enjoy taking showers, though it wasn’t something he was allowed to do often.
One day, Wojtek found the shower building unlocked and wandered in only to stumble upon a spy hiding inside. The man was later found to be gathering information for an upcoming attack. Thanks to Wojtek’s unexpected visit, the threat was discovered and stopped. As a reward, Wojtek got what he really wanted: free access to the showers!
🏞️ After the war, he retired to the Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland, where he lived until 1963. There, Wojtek became a local celebrity. Visitors loved him, and Polish veterans living in the UK would often come to see him—bringing treats, speaking to him in Polish, and even tossing him ci******es (which he used to chew).
