Wojtek the Bear

Wojtek the Bear by Aileen Orr.

It is a great story.  In 1942 the 22nd Company, Polish Army Service Corps (Artillery) while marching through Persia adopted a Syrian brown bear whom they named Wojtek (pronounced Voy-chek).  Over the next three years as they traveled through the Mideast to Italy and eventually to Scotland Wojtek traveled with them. (see here for their travels.)  Knowing no other life Wojtek adopted astonishingly domestic and nearly human behavior.  It was frequently said that he thought of himself as one of the company.  He lived in tents with them, drank beer and smoked cigarettes with them, wrestled, and responded to their Polish language.  In order to get him rations the Poles registered him as Private Wojtek.

During the Battle of Monte Cassino in Italy a legend was born.  Observing his Polish comrades carrying heavy boxes of artillery shells and other munitions to the front Wojtek pitched in by carrying munitions to the front as well.  Many soldiers attested to seeing him in action.

After the war ended his company was assigned to a displaced persons camp in Scotland.  His presence acted as a buffer to ease relations between the now homeless Poles and their provincial Scots hosts.  Eventually as his comrades scattered he was given a new home in the Edinburgh Zoo - where his former comrades would visit him. 

The first two thirds of this book covers the life of Wojtek and the final third of the book covers Orr's quest to create a fitting tribute to the bear soldier.  An epilogue by Neal Ascherson discusses Poland's role in World War II and how Polish soldiers ended up in the Middle East.  Thanks to brother Steve for sending me the book.

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