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Private Wotjek The Bear Accompanied The Polish Army During World War 2

Mr Bleak

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Great article about Wotjek the Bear, who served with the Polish Army in World War 2 .


" A bear, famed for his love of beer, cigarettes and boxing and who was by the side of Allied troops in World War Two, has been made the subject of a play.

Wojtek was adopted by the 2nd Polish Corps in 1943, after his mother was shot by hunters.

The Syrian brown bear travelled with them from the Middle East as they were deployed to Italy. Allied soldiers described their shock at seeing Wojtek carrying artillery shells during the Battle of Monte Cassino, external.

The story of friendship and courage has been adapted for a production at Coventry's Albany Theatre by writer Alan Pollock from his children's book The Bear Who Went To War.............."


BBC News Wotjek
 
Great article about Wotjek the Bear, who served with the Polish Army in World War 2 .


" A bear, famed for his love of beer, cigarettes and boxing and who was by the side of Allied troops in World War Two, has been made the subject of a play.

Wojtek was adopted by the 2nd Polish Corps in 1943, after his mother was shot by hunters.

The Syrian brown bear travelled with them from the Middle East as they were deployed to Italy. Allied soldiers described their shock at seeing Wojtek carrying artillery shells during the Battle of Monte Cassino, external.

The story of friendship and courage has been adapted for a production at Coventry's Albany Theatre by writer Alan Pollock from his children's book The Bear Who Went To War.............."


BBC News Wotjek
There's a statue of him in Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh.
 
There's also a statue of him in Duns in the Scottish Borders. From BBC news-

A life-sized statue of a bear which saw action in World War Two has been unveiled in the Borders town of Duns.

Wojtek - nicknamed the "Soldier Bear" - was adopted by Polish troops and helped them carry ammunition.

After the war, he lived in Hutton in Berwickshire before ending his days at Edinburgh Zoo.

The new statue has been gifted to the people of Duns by its twin town of Zagan in Poland. It was unveiled on Sunday in the town's market square.

Wojtek was adopted by Polish soldiers after he was rescued as a cub in the Middle East in 1943.

As well as carrying heavy mortar rounds at the Battle of Monte Cassino in Italy, he learned to drink beer.

At the end of the war he was billeted at an army camp in Hutton, 10 miles from Duns.

The new statue was unveiled by the Mayor of Zagan.

It's been there since 2016.

Statue of Polish 'Soldier Bear' unveiled in Duns - BBC News

He looks happy at his work :)
 
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