Voytek The Soldier Bear

[cyberia]

This section is open to all nations, so I hope it is also open to other species.

Because this is a pretty cool story.

It all started in 1943 when Polish forces were stationed in the Middle-East. Legend has it that one night from out of the Iranian mountains a small bear cub wandered down into the camp of the Polish 22nd Transport Artillery Supply Company looking for food. The Polish soldiers adopted the cub, naming him Voytek, and making him their official unit mascot.

Voytek's "recruitment" photo

As Voytek grew, and by grew he stood about six feet tall and weight somewhere between 500 and 600 pounds, he was fitted with a special harness and trained to haul heavy mortar rounds.

"He was just like a dog," recalled Polish veteran Augustyn Karolewski. "Nobody was scared of him. He was just like one of us."

Voytek was very much just like one of the men. When the unit marched out on a mission, Voytek would stand up on his hind legs and march alongside them. When the motorized convoy was on the move, Voytek sat in the passenger seat of one of the jeeps hanging his head out a window.
The bear quickly developed a taste for beer, cigarettes and was know to occasionally swat at company NCOs.

Voytek "roughing it up" with one of the sergeants

When Polish forces were deployed to Europe they refused to leave behind their trusted mascot. The only way to take the bear with them, however, was to have him "enlist". Voytek given a name, rank and number and shipped off with the rest of his unit to take part in the Italian campaign.

The bear saw action at Monte Cassino as an ammunition "mule" and remained with his unit they were demobilised, and Voytek was shipped off to the Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland.


Karolewski, who served with Voytek visited his old comrade at the zoo several times.

"He still understood Polish," Karolewski said. "And as soon as I mentioned his name he would sit on his backside and shake his head wanting a cigarette.
It wasn't easy to throw a cigarette to him - but after a few attempts he eventually got one."

Voytek - The Soldier Bear - was a major attraction at the zoo until his death in 1963.

There are currently plans to erect a memorial to Voytek in Holyrood, not far from the zoo and the former Polish Barracks.

Local campaigner Aileen Orr would like to see a lasting tribute to the bear from Iran who joined Polish forces to fight in Italy, and then retired quietly to Scotland.

She first heard about Voytek as a child from her grandfather, who served with the King's Own Scottish Borderers.

"I thought he had made it up to be quite honest but it was only when I got married and came here that I knew in fact he was here, Voytek was here," she said. "It is just amazing, the story is totally amazing."

[Horch]

Thats an incredible story cyberia. It took me long enough to read it. Better late than never. Those guys also sure had to have big gahoona's!

[Holly6]

As much as I dislike saying anything nice about you, this was an awesome find and post. Thanks Paul. Could there be an idea here. PA bears should be able to pull Utility Trailers full of leaves etc. Perhaps some could pull stones for your landscaping.

[cyberia]

Originally Posted by Holly6

As much as I dislike saying anything nice about you, this was an awesome find and post. Thanks Paul. Could there be an idea here. PA bears should be able to pull Utility Trailers full of leaves etc. Perhaps some could pull stones for your landscaping.

Beer and cigarettes in exchange for labor!!! Hal, you just might be on to something.

[Holly6]

As a sidelight: When young (early 60's), I lived close to Shasta Dam in CA. The park around the Dam had several tame dear. These poor animals were nicatine addicts. People had been feeding them cigarettes for years. They would come up and take them out of your hand. At times, they would almost stampede you to get their fix. In those times everyone thought it was "cute".

[cyberia]

Originally Posted by Holly6

As a sidelight: When young (early 60's), I lived close to Shasta Dam in CA. The park around the Dam had several tame dear. These poor animals were nicatine addicts. People had been feeding them cigarettes for years. They would come up and take them out of your hand. At times, they would almost stampede you to get their fix. In those times everyone thought it was "cute".

Wow, that's strange. Our deer are hooked on bananas. We toss them the peels and they go nuts. Once Heidi came home from shopping, left the trunk open, and the grabbed a whole bunch out of a bag and went to town with them in the parking lot.

[McCoy]

Isn't there somethin' in the banana peels that's mildly narcotic?

[cyberia]

Originally Posted by McCoy

Isn't there somethin' in the banana peels that's mildly narcotic?

Could be. That would explain all the antler dancin'!

[vitara]

great thread mate thanks for showing us .....

[DocCasualty]

That is an awesome story! Thanks for posting that. Makes me wonder how often units have had some kind of mascot.

Although this was stateside, I remember my father telling me about a fox they kept as a mascot. I think this was probably while he was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. Seems they found a lone kit during some field exercise and took it with them. Pretty much was like a dog, very friendly. They kept it either in a covered pen or on a leash when they were out and about. One night on a bivouac, somebody got the idea to let it off its leash, thinking it had been with them for several months and was "tame". The fox ran right to the woods, stopped and took one look back and disappeared into the thicket. Afterward they all decided that was for the best anyway, but I guess everydody missed him.

Gotta believe these kinds of experiences lend some touch of humanity (not sure that's the word I'm looking for) to the whole military experience.