Description

In 1942, Polish soldiers escaping the Soviet Union via Iran bought a Syrian brown bear cub from a local boy for a few cans of food. They named him Wojtek. But Wojtek didn't stay a pet; he became a soldier. "The Bear Who Went to War" tells the heartwarming and hilarious true story of the only bear to be officially enlisted in a modern army, complete with a rank, serial number, and a paybook.

Wojtek grew up drinking beer, smoking cigarettes (which he ate), and wrestling with the troops. But his finest hour came during the brutal Battle of Monte Cassino. Amidst heavy mortar fire, the bear was seen carrying heavy crates of artillery shells to the front lines, never dropping a single one. He became a symbol of hope and resilience for the Polish II Corps.

This book follows Wojtek's journey from the mountains of Iran to the bloody battles of Italy and finally to his retirement in Edinburgh Zoo. It is a story about the absurdity of war and the incredible bonds that form between humans and animals in the darkest of times.