A bear named Voytek was adopted by Polish soldiers in the Middle East after they found him wandering the hills in 1943. The bear spent much of his life in Scotland after fighting in the war. He helped the troops carry ammunition to the Battle of Monte Cassino. He lived near Hutton in the Borders and ended his days at Edinburgh Zoo. The soldiers he was raised by adopted him after finding him wandering the hills and as he grew they trained him to carry heavy mortar rounds. When the Polish soldiers were deployed to Europe they could not just abandon him after training and raising him so they simply enlisted him and took him with them wherever they went. He was given a rank and number and then took part in the Italian Campaign. Soldiers who were stationed with him said he was easy to get along with, was not scary and that he liked to have a cigarette and a beer just like any man. He didn't move to the Edinburgh Zoo until the troops he was stationed with were demobilized. Some soldiers would visit him there and when they spoke Polish to him he still understood and would knod to them gesturing for a cigarette. A high school teacher is now writing a book about him.
Voytek Scotland Edinburgh Zoo Polish enlisted cigarette soldier bear book
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