During the battle of monte cassino, in italy in 1944, wojtek helped move crates of ammunition and became a celebrity with visiting allied generals and statesmen. The stories of wojteks shenanigans as the soldier bear were well told but the atrocities of war were never far away, and rightly so. Later, they noticed that there was something in his bag. During world war ii, a polish supply unit serving in iran encountered a young boy. Wojtek needed to be a soldier, so the poles formally enlisted him as a private with his own pay book and serial number. Book cover voytek wojtek, vojtek the soldier bear contents. Its not necessarily accurate, its my own interpretation and some details were changed to fit my own needs.
The story of wojtek the soldier bear who was promoted to. The the book has an extraordinary ww2 hero a syrian brown bear purchased by polish ii corps soldiers who had been evacuated from the soviet union. A memorial to the beloved brown bear that served in the polish army during world war ii. When a tiny orphaned bear cub is adopted by polish soldiers during world. This site is dedicated to wojtek the soldier bear and the men of the 22nd transport company, artillery division, polish 2nd corp. It is a story that gives a glimpse into polands history during very dark times. He could see the soldiers service number and his pay book, but the man himself was nowhere to be found, until an amused colonel came forward and led brown to a cage. Wojtek the soldier bear the story so far richard lucas.
Soldier bear by bibi dumon tak goodreads share book. Wojtek pronounced voytek was a syrian brown bear who served with the polish 2nd corps in the 22nd artillery supply company. He didnt receive money, but was officially a polish soldier, mr narebski says. Soldier bear does what the voytek does for the soldiers lightens, appropriately, a hard time in our history. They fought in the middle east, north africa, and italy. This is my graduation project from shenkar college of engineering and design a short animated film that tells the true story of wojtek, a bear who got adopted by the polish soldiers and became an official member of the polish army during wwii. Wojtek the soldier bear was the pet mascot of the 22nd transport artillery supply company, polish ii corps during the conflict, and his story is truly fascinating. Helping school children find out about the world of work low cost high impact best practice from winchester college, uk. We got this book as a christmas present for a college student who had read about wojtek voytek, a bear that fought nazis alongside some polish troops. Bibi dumon tak is a dutch author who has written several nonfiction titles for children, beginning with the cow book in 2001. Story of polands soldier bear wojtek turned into film bbc news.
Wojtek was an orphaned bear who was adopted by the polish second corps during wwii. Story of wwii polish army bear wojtek being turned into. Aileen orrs new biography wojtek the bear, polish war hero will help to remedy that. The unbelievable tale of wojtek the bear in scotland polish. The voice of the story is slightly younger than the story itself perhaps, but i thoroughly enjoyed the book and will recommend it for purchase for our library.
I loved reading about wojtek and his soldier comrades. To stay warm, wojtek slept on the chest of a soldier named piotr peter, who taught him military greetings and played with him. When his company fought at the battle of monte cassino, wojtek helped carry ammunition, never dropping a shell. By now, he was an adult brown bear standing 6 foot tall and weighing almost 450 pounds. The heartmelting story of wojtek, the soldier bear youtube. Wojtek the bear was adopted as a young cub, in 1942 by soldiers of the 22nd transport company, artillery division of the polish 2nd corp.
The book is written at a much lower grade level, but the point was to have a cute stocking stuffer. For the next several days, they nursed the bear back to health, giving it food, water, and a warm place to sleep. When britains prince charles was visiting the imperial war museum with his sons, a guide mentioned the wojtek story, but he only replied. Wojtek the soldier bear statue krakow, poland atlas obscura. And funds from the book will go to wojteks memorial trust. The bear that went to war, was broadcast on bbc two scotland, narrated by brian blessed.
Discover wojtek the soldier bear statue in krakow, poland. This is an informative book for adults and also contains an entertaining story for young children. Wojtek the soldier bear to be honoured with own memorial. War hero bear and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Private wojtek was a 6fttall 35 stone syrian brown bear which.
Discover wojtek the soldier bear memorial in edinburgh, scotland. I would recommend this book to all parents, who thier grandparents went through this period of life, so that we have peace in our world. The soldiers had stopped in the zagros mountains for a meal break and were joined by. Wojtek bear the bear hero wojtek soldier long sleeve tshirt wojtek bear, hoodies, sweatshirts, types of shirts, shirt style, graphic sweatshirt, hero, t shirts for women, long sleeve wojtek the bear polish war hero wwii wojtek was officially enlisted in the polish army and given the rank of private. In her books, bibi blends literary technique with fact to produce stories that are both compelling and accurate. First, there is the story of a very special bear at a time of great hardship for polish soldiers. The book was later translated into english as soldier bear. Wojtek was found as a cub in iran and sold to a polish refugee who. A brown syrian bear was given to a new polish army, setting up in the middle east in 1942. On the road to tehran, polish soldiers encountered a boy caring for a syrian brown bear and decided to buy the young cub. He enjoyed wrestling and was taught to salute when greeted. This is a story about a remarkable bear who displayed almost human characteristicsand yet it is a story about so much more. I gather a lot of research went into this book and as we learn about wojtek, we also learn about the treatment of poles during and after the war.
After a long series of murders, disappearances and diseases, i thought it was about time for a story that was a little more lighthearted. However, his story may not be so well known elsewhere. Wojtek watched his friends head off into battle and then come back to collect ammunition. Each book contains both english and polish languages. Reporters streamed into the headquarters of the 22nd company at winfield park to take pictures and to write about the fantastic stories of the brave bear. In 1974 the story of voytek the soldier bear was narrated over three episodes of the bbc childrens television series jackanory by harry towb. A bear who went to war a story of love and loyalty, heroism and hope.
He was a bit of a mischief maker, quite the performer, a bit feisty at times, but always loyal. Inspired designs on tshirts, posters, stickers, home decor, and more by independent artists and designers from around the world. After germany seized poland in the blitzkrieg, polish forces were evacuated into the middle east to assist britain in the africa campaign. T he story of the iranian bear named voytek wojtek,vojtek, mascot of the polish army the polish bear.
Story of polands soldier bear wojtek turned into film. The book tells a story about a bear cub beening saved by the polish soldiers in the ll world war, which brought the soldiers some joy and support during such a bad time. The soldiers had stopped in the zagros mountains for a meal break and were joined by a hungry local boy with a sack around his neck. Wojtek was a syrian brown bear ursus arctos syriacus bought, as a young cub, at a railway. A short animated film that tells the true story of wojtek, a bear who got adopted by the polish soldiers and became an official member of the polish army during wwii. The unbelievable tale of wojtek the bear in scotland. I liked the information about the repatriation of the polish soldiers. Soldier bear by bibi dumon tak, philip hopman, paperback. Wojtek the bear was adopted by polish soldiers early in world war ii. Wojtek the soldier bear the story so far 236 views. The bear considered himself a soldier, and would copy what they did. Story of wwii polish army bear wojtek being turned into film.
Private wojtek, the 35stone soldier bear which drank. Wojtek the soldier bear in the ranks of victors home. War hero bear made me smile, it made me laugh and it moved me to tears. Wojtek, who was nicknamed the soldier bear, had a colourful life with the polish army before retiring and living out the rest of his days in edinburgh. At the netherbow june 69 and wojtek the bear will be at the hill street theatre venue 41.
All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. Wojtek the soldier bear, the animal was very small and the problem of feeding him was soon overcome by the improvised techniques employed by his new family including feeding him from on an old vodka bottle filled with condensed milk. The cub was so small that it could not eat independently or normally swallow food, so the soldiers fed it themselves from an improvised nipple. View all hotels near wojtek the soldier bear statue on tripadvisor.
After the battle, a likeness of wojtek holding a shell became the official badge of the 22nd transport company. Apr 11, 2018 wojtek would see his first real combat at the battle of monte cassino, a rocky hill approximately 80 miles southeast of rome. By giving the bear his own pay book, rank and serial number there would be no question that he was on the list of soldiers of the polish second corps. The 2nd corp was made up of polish prisoners, and deportees, released from labor camps in siberia. Nov 10, 2014 wojtek pronounced voytek was a syrian brown bear who served with the polish 2nd corps in the 22nd artillery supply company. Wojteks fame continued as he was welcomed by local spectators who came to watch and cheer for the famous iranian soldierbear. Wojtek sits in front of a soldier imperial war museum public domain wojtek the bear was born in 1942, during world war ii. For more about wojtek and his scottish friends, here is a link to the robert owen memorial primary schools children singing voytek the soldier bear, with music by billy stewart.
Wojtek accompanied the soldiers into battle and was even enlisted into the 22nd artillery transport company and given the. Wojtek the soldier bear statue, edinburgh tripadvisor. Over the long journey from iran to palestine, the bear, now named voytek its spelled wojtek in polish but pronounced voytek because polish is a crazy fucking language quickly became the unofficial mascot of the 22nd company. Wojtek was a syrian brown bear rescued by polish troops as they journeyed through iran. News people wojtek the soldier bear to be honoured with own memorial day faithful private wojtek, a 6ft tall, 500lb brown bear who served alongside polish soldiers and lived out his years. This is an informative book for adults and also contains an. The incredible story of one of ww2s most incredible polish soldiers a 500pound siberian, beerdrinking. Soldier bear by bibi dumon tak 2012 batchelder award winner this is the delightful true story of soldiers with the 2nd polish corps, who while working with the british troops during ww ii, bought a bear cub from a hungry child. Wojtek copied the other soldiers, drinking beer, smoking and even marching alongside.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Wojtek the polish soldier bear an article by emily thompson in spring of 1942, a group of young polish soldiers were making their way to the middle east alongside thousands of polish civilians after surviving the soviet invasion of poland. Wojtek the bear polish war hero by aileen orr is an endearing true story of a syrian bear in the persian mountains that in april 1942 joined a polish contingent of soldiers on their way to palestine. Wojtek, the soldier bear wojtek 19421963 was a syrian brown bear cub found in iran and adopted by soldiers of the 22nd artillery supply company of the polish ii corps. During world war ii, an orphaned brown bear went from being a cuddly pet to an officially enlisted soldier in the polish army, and reportedly saw fierce combat in italy. Voytek was a syrian brown bear who served with the polish army under the british for over 5 years. Wojtek the soldier bear i cant believe its nonfiction. I of course liked reading about the antics of wojtek.
Wojtek the soldier bear memorial edinburgh, scotland. The soldier bear strange stories of world war ii youtube. During world war ii, an orphaned brown bear went from being a cuddly pet to an officially enlisted soldier in the. The story of wojtek, a brown bear adopted as a orphaned cub by polish soldiers is wellknown in some quarters, notably in britain and among polish veterans of world war ii. Wojtek the bear polish war hero niedzwiedz wojtek home. Wojtek the soldier bear statue krakow, poland atlas. I think it would be perfect for children and adults alike.
During world war ii, a polish supply unit serving in iran encountered a young boy who asked if they would trade food and money for what he was carrying in a squirming burlap bag. He really enjoyed the book, even though its not an indepth treatise. The stories of wojtek s shenanigans as the soldier bear were well told but the atrocities of war were never far away, and rightly so. Sep 23, 2017 the soldier bear strange stories of world war ii. Soldier bear is her first novel based on a historical event. Oct 26, 2018 the book was written, with great passion, in order to raise money to commemorate wojtek with a statue. I wasnt aware of what was going to happen at the end and it made me cry.
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