Of a bear cub wojtek, who is bought by soldiers on a convey through persia. Aug 19, 2012 a well recommanded book to read, based on a true story. I remember this photo very well and all the telling about wojtek and ll world war. This is the inspiring true story of one of the second world wars most unusual combatantsa 500pound cigarettesmoking, beerdrinking brown bear. Wojtek was a great moral support, almost like a human, he even liked doing the same things like his fellow men. Amazing as this is, the book also records the sad tale of the soldiers who found. Wojtek watched his friends head off into battle and then come back to collect ammunition. Get a white tshirt with saluting war bear and a signed copy of the book. Now the 86yearold professor of geochemistry and petrology has travelled from his home in krakow, poland, to london for the uk premiere of the documentary, wojtek the bear.
Wojtek would see his first real combat at the battle of monte cassino, a rocky hill approximately 80 miles southeast of rome. The bear that drank beer and went to war amusing planet. Inspired designs on tshirts, posters, stickers, home decor, and more by independent artists and designers from around the world. Buy wojtek the bear by aileen orr from waterstones today. Originally adopted as a mascot by the polish army in iran, wojtek soon took on a more practical role, carr. Wojtek deserves to be remembered in each generation.
The book was written, with great passion, in order to raise money to commemorate wojtek with a statue. 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. Bibi dumon tak is a dutch author who has written several nonfiction titles for children, beginning with the cow book in 2001. The story of wojtek the bear is almost like a fairy tale. This site is dedicated to wojtek the soldier bear and the men of the 22nd transport company, artillery division, polish 2nd corp. Jun 05, 2014 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.
How an orphaned syrian bear named wojtek became a polish army hero. Watch more videos like this one here the amazing octopus. On saturday 30th november 20 the polish school in crawley was named after wojtek the bear. A beautiful relationship unfolds between the bear they named wojtek and the polish soldiers. Wojtek the bears unlikely journey to scotlandand into the annals of military historybegan in iran in 1943, when a group of polish soldiers adopted an. Piotr, a polish soldier meets the orphaned bear cub whilst serving in world war ii. Polish war hero by aileen orr english paperback book free shi. 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 monument to wojtek in princes street gardens, edinburgh. 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. As an enlisted soldier with his own paybook, rank, and serial number, he lived with the other men in tents or in a special wooden crate, which was. This is an informative book for adults and also contains an entertaining story for young children. Polish war hero by neal ascherson and aileen orr 2014, paperback, new edition at the best online prices at ebay.
All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. Sep 24, 2018 wojtek, the bear who helped polish soldiers win one of the most brutal battles of the second world war, is to be the subject of an animated film by the executive producer of childrens christmas. The soldier bear strange stories of world war ii youtube. A brown syrian bear was given to a new polish army, setting up in the middle east in 1942. 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.
Sep 23, 2017 the soldier bear strange stories of world war ii. In her books, bibi blends literary technique with fact to produce stories that are both compelling and accurate. Wojtek, a syrian brown bear, was born in 1942 and initially sold by an iranian boy to irena bokiewicz, a young wojtek, the bear, grew up together with soldiers of the 22nd transport company whilst spending most of his time with the 4th platoon. This is a book of true events and holds your interest to the end and tells why wojtek the bear is such a symbol struggle and strength. Jan 07, 2017 in a quick, if not bizarre, workaround, soldiers made wojtek a private of the polish ii corps, and gave him a rank, service number, and pay book to legitimate his status. View all hotels near wojtek the soldier bear statue on tripadvisor. A beautiful relationship unfolds between the bear they named wojtek. This book is not just about wojtek, but it also gives the reader an idea of what it was like for the poles that surrounded vojtek.
Polish war hero by aileen orr english paperback book free shi wojtek the bear. Story of wwii polish army bear wojtek being turned into film. Wojtek accompanied the soldiers into battle and was even enlisted into the 22nd artillery transport company and given the rank of private. All of our paper waste is recycled within the uk and turned into corrugated cardboard. Wojtek the bear by aileen orr 2010, hardcover for sale. T he story of the iranian bear named voytek wojtek,vojtek, mascot of the polish army the polish bear. Originally adopted as a mascot by the polish army in. Soldier bear by bibi dumon tak goodreads share book.
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. The heartmelting story of wojtek, the soldier bear youtube. Private wojtek was no ordinary ursus arctos syriacus syrian brown bear was born near iraniraq border in 1942 but orphaned while still a tiny cub the huge 35stone sixfoot bear was sold to. Its very interesting book about polish soldier who was a bear. 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. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. After the war, the polish solders move to scotland. In addition, wojtek lives on in the book wojtek bear soldier, songs, and some documentary films including wojtek. 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. In order to provide for his rations and transportation, he was eventually enlisted officially as a soldier. Aileen orrs new biography wojtek the bear, polish war hero will help to. Thank you to lovebooksgroup for inviting me to take part in the tour and to the author and publisher for providing me with a copy of the book. Wojtek was a syrian brown bear ursus arctos syriacus bought, as a young cub, at a railway.
The unbelievable tale of wojtek the bear in scotland. Aileen orrs new biography wojtek the bear, polish war hero will help to remedy that. The new school emblem was unveiled by mr ludomir lasocki whose father had written the first book about wojtek from monte cassino. Born in the zagros mountains in persia now iran in 1942, wojtek the bearcub was bought from a half starved local boy who had put him in a sac after the bears mother had been killed by hunters. Mrs orr tells the wonderful story of wojtek the bear who finds himself part of a polish army unit as mascot and over time, soldier. This is the inspiring and charming true story of one of the second world wars most unusual combatants a 500pound cigarettesmoking, beerdrinking brown bear. Arts and culture incredible story of polish army hero wojtek the bear he was the largest and undoubtedly most intimidating fighting force of the polish army.
This is a story about a remarkable bear who displayed almost human characteristicsand yet. A statue in the heart of edinburgh honors a bear that served in the polish military during world war ii. Wojtek the soldier bear statue, edinburgh tripadvisor. Nursing the bear with a bottle of condensed milk in a vodka bottle, the soldiers treated wojtek like a baby, perhaps because their own families had been torn apart by the war, she explains. Originally adopted as a mascot by the polish army in iran, wojtek soon took on a more practical role, carrying heavy mortar rounds. 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. The 22nd artillery supply company of the polish ii corps would name him wojtek by the soldiers and soon he would become a morale boosting mascot for the troops. This is the incredible, endearing and heartwarming true story of wojtek, the polish bear that went to war. 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. Wojtek needed to be a soldier, so the poles formally enlisted him as a private with his own pay book and serial number. Discover wojtek the soldier bear memorial in edinburgh, scotland.
Wojtek was a syrian brown bear rescued by polish troops as they journeyed through iran. Wojtek the soldier bear memorial edinburgh, scotland. At the netherbow june 69 and wojtek the bear will be at the hill street theatre venue 41. 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 playing with his brothersinarms, circa 1942. It begins with a group of polish soldiers in 1943 who were released from the soviet gulags after the nazis invaded the ussr. However, soon after his arrival, they realized what a valuable asset wotjek would prove to be. The unbelievable tale of wojtek the bear in scotland polish. The troops adopted him as a small cub, although he soon grew to over six feet tall and. The heartmelting story of the bear who went to war. Originally adopted as a mascot by the polish army in iran, wojtek soon took on a more practical role, carrying heavy mortar rounds for the troops. When private wotjek joined the allied fight during world war ii, his comrades could not imagine the impact his presence would have in the war. Wikimedia commons troops of the polish 22 transport artillery company watch as one of their comrades play wrestles with wojtek their mascot bear during the middle.
Wars most unusual combatants a 500pound cigarettesmoking, beerdrinking brown bear. The incredible story of one of ww2s most incredible polish soldiers a 500pound siberian, beerdrinking. Wojtek lost his freedom in edinburgh zoo, my dad and his fellow men thier country poland. Wojtek the bear that went to war dokumentation, regie.
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. A sculpture of the bearsoldier is in the museum of sikorski in london. However, his story may not be so well known elsewhere. Soldier bear is her first novel based on a historical event. After the war, the poles returned to the uk for demobilisation. But with hostilities ended, how long can he keep his freedom. A bear who went to war a story of love and loyalty, heroism and hope. The book is written at a much lower grade level, but the point was to have a cute stocking stuffer. Apr 07, 2020 get a white tshirt with saluting war bear and a signed copy of the book.
How wojtek the beerdrinking bear became a world war ii hero. Born in the zagros mountains in persia now iran in 1942, wojtek the bear cub was bought from a half starved local boy who had put him in a sac after the bear s mother had been killed by hunters. The book is not just about the bear but also about the way stalin treated the poles until 1941, and the author brings the soldiers to life as well. Wojtek comes too and soon becomes the centre of attention in a new country. It was nice to see a photo of my dad in this book, playing with wojtek in the middle east. This is the inspiring true story of one of the second world wars m. It worked, and wojtek joined his comrades onto the italybound vessel, this time as a legal member of the army. Incredible story of polish army hero wojtek the bear the. Nov 16, 2011 the story of wojtek the bear, who was enlisted into the polish army in world war ii, has been turned into a documentary.
Second, is the story of trying to establish a memorial to this bear. Bestselling childrens author jenny robertson explores the themes of friendship and trust in this moving and inspirational story. Wojtek the bear was adopted by polish soldiers early in world war ii. Wojtek was an orphaned bear who was adopted by the polish second corps during wwii. Wojtek the bear polish war hero niedzwiedz wojtek home. Third is the story of the struggle of the polish people to survive. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. Story of polands soldier bear wojtek turned into film. Books go search your store deals store gift cards sell help. The story of the iranian bear named voytek wojtek,vojtek, mascot of the polish army the polish. Today i am thrilled to be part of the blog tour for wojtek war hero bear by jenny robertson.
Nevertheless, the book has it weak sides, especially when author writes about history of polish soldiers and polish people at large. Once a hero is a historical novel of a syrian brown bear cub that was orphaned and later, through. A well recommanded book to read, based on a true story. Wojtek the soldier bear statue krakow, poland atlas. Wojtek the bear was a real brown syrian bear, who at the age of three months was adopted by polish soldiers of the ii corps of gen anders in hamadan, iran in 1942. 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.
By now, he was an adult brown bear standing 6 foot tall and weighing almost 450 pounds. Soldier bear by bibi dumon tak, philip hopman, paperback. This entertaining, informative and moving book follows wojtek from his initial rescue in iran, through his life in the polish army during the 2nd world war and in a camp in the scottish borders to his last years in edinburgh zoo where one of. The resettlement program after the war in and around the uk, problems that existed and attitudes, good and bad. Wojtek, the bear who helped polish soldiers win one of the most brutal battles of the second world war, is to be the subject of an animated film by. 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. Soldier bear does what the voytek does for the soldiers lightens, appropriately, a hard time in our history. Wojtek s supply company adopted the image of a bear carrying an artillery shell as the unit insignia. The story of wojtek the bear, who was enlisted into the polish army in world war ii, has been turned into a documentary. And also to my father, dymitr szawlugo, and is the story of his early life before he married my mother. We want your experience with world of books to be enjoyable and problem free. A bear who ends up being a symbol of love and friendship. Nov 12, 2017 seeing the statue made me want to find out more about wojtek and so i was delighted to discover wojtek the bear, polish war hero a book by aileen orr. Oct 26, 2018 the book was written, with great passion, in order to raise money to commemorate wojtek with a statue.