A Brown Bear Who Served During World War 2

Even in times of crisis and war, stories of animals emerge that not only highlight their role as companions but also as a critical support system.

During World War II, Polish soldiers who had been released from Soviet prison camps in 1942 found a young shepherd carrying an orphaned Syrian brown bear.

The bear cub was raised by this young shepherd after his mother had been killed by hunters. Filled with compassion, the Polish soldiers took the brown bear from the shepherd. 

The bear was primarily raised by two soldiers, Dymitr Szawlugo and Henryk Zacharewicz. The soldiers named him Wojtek, meaning “joyful soldier” in Polish.​

As Wojtek grew, he became a beloved companion, mimicking the soldiers’ habits and routines. He was fed condensed milk from a bottle as a cub and later ate a wide variety of foods.

Wojtek’s antics included drinking beer, begging for lit cigarettes (which he often swallowed whole), wrestling with soldiers (often tearing their clothes), and becoming skilled at entertaining and boosting the men’s morale.​

When the troops were reorganised into the 22nd Transport Company (Artillery Division, Polish 2nd Corps) in Palestine, Wojtek officially became their mascot, living and travelling with them in military trucks.

Wojtek the bear was known for his friendly interactions with people and other animals, such as a monkey and a dog who accompanied the troops.

He also survived a life-threatening scorpion sting thanks to the devoted care of his caretaker.​

During the unit’s transfer to the Italian front, regulations prohibited animals from being at the active war site.

The soldiers got around this rule by officially enlisting Wojtek as a private in the Polish Army, thereby granting him a rank, paybook, and serial number so he could travel and serve alongside the men.

At the famous Battle of Monte Cassino, Wojtek helped transport heavy crates of ammunition to the front lines, mimicking his fellow soldiers’ actions and playing a practical role in the fight.

His bravery led to his depiction on the official emblem of the 22nd Transport Company—a bear carrying an artillery shell.​

After the war, Wojtek and his unit were stationed in Scotland before being discharged in 1947 as corporals.

Wojtek retired to the Edinburgh Zoo, where he remained a celebrated figure, often visited by his former comrades.

Wojtek the bear passed away in 1963, at the age of 21, and is remembered as one of history’s most legendary animal soldiers.