Wojtek - Legend Wars Bashny.Net

Every year, World War II, one of the most difficult trials that have befallen humanity in the twentieth century, rooted in the past. It seems that we know almost everything about her battles, remember in the face of its heroes. At the Great War had everything - joy and pain, happiness and tears. There were heavy losses and unexpected return, there were unique military operations and meet unusual soldiers. One of them, a member Wojtek, I want rasskazat.


Wojtek, soldier of the Second Polish Corps, started a war in the Middle East. He was enrolled in the division artillery troops and supplies along with his fellow soldiers went up to the front road pobedy.

His glorious deeds of allied troops were legendary: Wojtek once neutralized the dangerous German spy-Arab. It was said that the hapless German agents had to climb a palm tree to escape the onslaught of the brave ordinary. And later, during fierce fighting in Italy, Wojtek soldiers showed miracles of courage, delivering ammunition to artillery. Crossfire, he did not leave the fighting position and thereby helped his comrades to execute the order.

Wojtek Polish soldier


At first glance, this story is not unusual. In the end, thousands of known and unknown soldiers on the battlefields of the Second World every day doing their hard work, which we now call the feat. Unusual here is that ordinary Wojtek was a bear ...


Syrian brown bear (Ursus arctos syriacus), found in Iran and taken to the soldiers of the Polish Army rations Anders (the so-called second case). At the Battle of Monte Cassino in Italy helped Polish artillerymen unload boxes of ammunition and even brought a shells during the battle, and this has immortalized his name.




Wojtek at a volunteer


Wojtek in a car (note the markings on the side)


Wojtek newborn was found in 1942, an Iranian boy and then bought from him in exchange for a few cans of Polish soldiers who arrived in Iran from the Soviet Union.

Sparring match, wagging tail small side referee


Bear was very small and could not even chew on their own, so that the soldiers fed him cow's milk from a bottle. Baby Bear gave Polish name - Wojtek. After some time the bear became the unofficial mascot of the 22nd Artillery Supply Company and was even officially enrolled in its composition. Soon the second body was transferred from Iran to Palestine, then - in North Africa, and later - in Italy, and Wojtek done with Polish soldiers all the way.


Over the past months, Wojtek has grown considerably, and tasted a lot of "human" joys - the soldiers gave him feast on fruit, marmalade, honey and syrup, and especially for good behavior gave adorable Wojtek beer. According to some reports, the bear even learned to smoke.


In addition, soldiers, without even knowing it, were unique trainers: under their guidance Bear learned to salute the senior officer and deal with people without causing them any harm and knowing exactly when to stop (but always comes out the winner of these fights polushutochnyh ). Wojtek for field camps company has always been based private booth, but bear loneliness and hated almost always spent the night at any of the soldiers in the tent.

Wojtek. Sculpture by David Harding Sikorski Museum in London


"Baptism of fire" for Wojtek was the battle of Monte Cassino in Italy. He not only helped the soldiers to unload trucks with shells, but shells and trays directly to the front line. In gratitude 22 th company has chosen its new logo silhouette of a bear carrying a bomb in his paws, and retains that character still.


In 1945, the Army units Anders, who could not return to their homeland, were sent to Britain, where he underwent disbanded; With them went and Wojtek, who gave shelter to Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland.


Wojtek bearing shell, the emblem of the 22nd Artillery Supply Company of the Polish Army.


in 1958 in Poland for a short time developed this campaign to "return" Wojtek (although bear never visited Poland). However, Edinburgh Zoo, said that he was ready to pass Wojtek Polish authorities only with the consent of his former guardians - Anders Army soldiers, who, being staunch opponents of the socialist regime in Poland, categorically refused.


Today in Edinburgh, Scotland decided to perpetuate the memory of Wojtek. The townspeople were enthusiastic about the idea, and soon one of the squares of the city will be a monument to the unusual soldier of World War II - the valiant ordinary Wojtek.


In various museums around the world a memorial plaque in honor of the legendary bear. It was said that Prince Charles and his sons, visiting the Imperial War Museum, did not even listen to the story of Wojtek guide, for both he and his sons knew in detail the story of the little bear, who grew up in a large and beautiful animal. Bear named Wojtek.