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Wojtek - an unusual soldier of World (25 photos)
Every year, World War II, one of the most difficult trials that befell humanity in the twentieth century, rooted in the past. It seems that we know almost everything about her battles, remember the face of her heroes. In the great war it was all - pleasure and pain, happiness and tears. There were heavy losses and unexpected return, there were unique military operations and met extraordinary men. One of them, a member Wojtek, I want to tell.
Wojtek, Private 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 victory
Wojtek Polish soldier
His glorious exploits of Allied troops were legendary: Wojtek once neutralized a dangerous German spy-Arab. They 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 shells. Under the crossfire, he did not leave a fighting position and thereby helped their comrades to execute the order.
At first glance, this story is not unusual. In the end, thousands of known and unknown soldiers on the fronts of World War II 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). In the battle of Monte Cassino in Italy helped the 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)
Sparring match, a small tail wagging the side referee
Wojtek newborn was found in 1942, an Iranian boy and then he redeemed in exchange for a few cans of Polish soldiers who arrived in Iran from the Soviet Union.
Bear was very small and could not even chew their own food, so that the soldiers were fed cow's milk from his makeshift pacifiers made from a bottle. Teddy bear given the 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 did with Polish soldiers all the way.
Over the past months, Wojtek has grown significantly, and ate a lot of "human" joys - the soldiers gave him a feast of fruit, marmalade, honey and syrup, and for especially good behavior gave Wojtek adored beer. According to some reports, the bear even learned to smoke.
Wojtek. Sculpture of David Harding Sikorski Museum in London
In addition, the soldiers themselves without knowing it, were unique trainers: under their guidance the bear learned to salute superiors and fight with the people, without causing them any harm, and knowing exactly when to stop (but always comes out the winner of the polushutochnyh fights ). For Wojtek field camps company always builds a separate hut, however, bear the loneliness and hated almost always spent the night at any of the soldiers in the tent.
"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, the 22-th company has chosen its new logo silhouette of a bear carrying a bomb in his paws, and maintains that character still.
Wojtek bearing shell, the emblem of the 22nd Artillery Supply Company of the Polish Army.
In 1945, Army units Anders, who could not return home were sent to Britain, where he underwent disbanding; With them gone, and Wojtek, who gave shelter to Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland.
in 1958 in Poland for a short time, developed this campaign to "return" Wojtek (though the bear has never been in Poland). However, Edinburgh Zoo, said 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 responded with a categorical refusal.
Today in Edinburgh, Scotland decided to perpetuate the memory of Wojtek. Townspeople were enthusiastic about the idea, and soon on one of the squares of the city will be an unusual monument to World War II soldiers - ordinary gallant Wojtek.
He graduated from his earthly journey Wojtek at the age of twenty-two years, in 1963. At the time of his death, growth was more than 180 cm, weight - 250 kg.
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 the 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.
Wojtek, Private 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 victory
Wojtek Polish soldier
His glorious exploits of Allied troops were legendary: Wojtek once neutralized a dangerous German spy-Arab. They 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 shells. Under the crossfire, he did not leave a fighting position and thereby helped their comrades to execute the order.
At first glance, this story is not unusual. In the end, thousands of known and unknown soldiers on the fronts of World War II 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). In the battle of Monte Cassino in Italy helped the 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)
Sparring match, a small tail wagging the side referee
Wojtek newborn was found in 1942, an Iranian boy and then he redeemed in exchange for a few cans of Polish soldiers who arrived in Iran from the Soviet Union.
Bear was very small and could not even chew their own food, so that the soldiers were fed cow's milk from his makeshift pacifiers made from a bottle. Teddy bear given the 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 did with Polish soldiers all the way.
Over the past months, Wojtek has grown significantly, and ate a lot of "human" joys - the soldiers gave him a feast of fruit, marmalade, honey and syrup, and for especially good behavior gave Wojtek adored beer. According to some reports, the bear even learned to smoke.
Wojtek. Sculpture of David Harding Sikorski Museum in London
In addition, the soldiers themselves without knowing it, were unique trainers: under their guidance the bear learned to salute superiors and fight with the people, without causing them any harm, and knowing exactly when to stop (but always comes out the winner of the polushutochnyh fights ). For Wojtek field camps company always builds a separate hut, however, bear the loneliness and hated almost always spent the night at any of the soldiers in the tent.
"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, the 22-th company has chosen its new logo silhouette of a bear carrying a bomb in his paws, and maintains that character still.
Wojtek bearing shell, the emblem of the 22nd Artillery Supply Company of the Polish Army.
In 1945, Army units Anders, who could not return home were sent to Britain, where he underwent disbanding; With them gone, and Wojtek, who gave shelter to Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland.
in 1958 in Poland for a short time, developed this campaign to "return" Wojtek (though the bear has never been in Poland). However, Edinburgh Zoo, said 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 responded with a categorical refusal.
Today in Edinburgh, Scotland decided to perpetuate the memory of Wojtek. Townspeople were enthusiastic about the idea, and soon on one of the squares of the city will be an unusual monument to World War II soldiers - ordinary gallant Wojtek.
He graduated from his earthly journey Wojtek at the age of twenty-two years, in 1963. At the time of his death, growth was more than 180 cm, weight - 250 kg.
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 the 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.
