Wojtek: The Bear Who Beat the Nazis: Polish War Hero

by Aileen Orr, Neal Ascherson

This is the inspiring and charming true story of one of the Second World War's most unusual combatants - a 500-pound cigarettesmoking, beer-drinking brown bear. 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 and going on to play his part as a fully enlisted 'soldier' with his own rank and number during the Italian campaign. After the war, Wojtek, along with some of his Polish compatriots from II Corps, came to Berwickshire, where he became a significant member of the local community before subsequently moving to Edinburgh Zoo. Wojtek's retirement was far from quiet: a potent symbol of freedom and solidarity for Poles around the world, he attracted a huge amount of media interest that shows no sign of abating almost 50 years after his death.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Animals, World War II, War, Biography, Poland

224 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2010

About the author

Aileen Orr was born and raised in Lockerbie before going on to study at the London School of Economics. After working for the Bank of America she joined and headed a new political team as regional director of the Countryside Alliance. She is now an advisor to Michael Russell MSP.

Reviews

[Igor Ljubuncic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay ... a soldier bear, who smokes and drinks and fights alongside Polish troops at Monte Cassino.

Not a joke, a true story. For realz.

This book has two parts.

The first half is dedicated to Wojtek, who he was and how he came to be the mascot, his journey in the Middle East and Italy, his escapades, then his life in Scotland after the war, and then in the Edinburgh Zoo. Really amazing, touching, interesting, wild, mad, sweet, sad, cool, lovely jubbly.

The second part is more about modern times, how the author helped bring Woytek's story to public image, the monument, commemoration and all that. Here, the plot slows down, there is quite a bit of repetition and even outright copy paste. And the author sort of lost her wind a bit, as she was trying to add an extra emotional spin to an already extraordinary story. Unnecessary.

There were a few other discrepancies in the story, some myth and legend got mixed up with fact, and there's the obvious childish glamor of someone who fell in love with a bear, and you can't blame them, but when you are reading it, you don't share the same magic. You do, but in a lesser way, because you weren't there in the zoo when Wojtek waved at you as a kid.

All in all, this is a great little book, but it could have been more amazing if the second piece was shorter, more concise. It takes the breath away from the amazing story in the beginning. Still, this is a highly recommended read, either way. Down right crazy.

And we must limerickize - sort of:

A bear there was, a bear, a bear!
All black and brown, and covered with hair.
The bear! The bear!

And down the road from here to there.
From here! To there!
In Monte Cassino, a fighting bear!
He lugged the ammo, all the way to the fair!
The fair! The fair!

Oh, sweet he was, the bear, the bear!
Woytek with a cigarette in his lair!
The lair! The lair!

The bear smelled the ake in Scottish air.
The bear! The bear!
All black and brown and covered with hair!

He smelled the scent on the summer air!
He sniffed and roared and smelled it there!
Pale ale on the summer air!

But Peter wouldn't let the bear,
The bear! The bear!
Drink the ale on his way to the fair!

So they went back to the lair!
The lair! The lair!
Hand in hand, the man and the bear!
Mother and son, a legend extraordinaire!

Thus endeth the story.

Cheers,
Igor

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book both heart-warming and heart-breaking.

Heart-warming because of the very real affection with which Orr approaches her subject: Wojtek's story has obviously touched her heart. And also due to the love and humanity that a little bear cub (and later a not-so-little full-grown bear) brought to a group of Polish soldiers, taken to Stalin's labour camps, released due to political expedience, but their country lost and the fate of their families unknown, though probably not pleasant. It would have been easy for them to become bitter and vengeful men, but their tender feelings were nurtured and preserved by the need to care for their little charge, and then to keep him out of trouble as he grew into a 500lb furry ball of mischief. But commanding officers, it seems, were as much putty in Wojtek's paws as were his comrades.

There is, undoubtedly, a very heavy leavening of anthropomorphism in the anecdotes that Orr has collected from those who served with and encountered Wojtek. He is ascribed motives and emotions that can only be projections and speculation. And yet, while I often find that sort of thing rather cloying, I didn't mind it at all in this case. Somehow, it seems right and probable that Wojtek, who was raised amongst humans, who was officially a private in the Polish army, should think and feel somewhat as we do. At any rate, I'm prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Heart-breaking because of the what I learned of the history of Poland, its proud heritage of democracy and liberalism, ultimately destroyed by the politico-military machinations of her larger neighbours, Russia and Germany, as their empires rose to prominence; its partition and reinstatement, and then the awful tragedy of the Nazi invasion and the death camps of Hitler's final solution; then the frankly shocking way in which the Poles were sold out to Stalin by the Western Allies at the end of the war. Maybe Churchill and Roosevelt really believed that Stalin would allow Poland to hold democratic elections, or more likely, after the years of war, neither could face the conflict with a too-powerful Russia that would inevitably follow should Stalin's demands not be met. In either event, to deny the Poles a part in the official VE Day celebrations was adding insult to injury.

I had known that Polish pilots played a much greater part in the Battle of Britain than was officially recognised at the time, indeed it's likely that we would have lost that battle without them, but I wasn't aware of the massive contributions Polish soldiers had made in other areas of the war.

I am saddened that in Britain today, Poles coming to work under European Union free-labour legislation are pilloried by the right-wing press as interlopers, "taking our jobs", forgetting that without the grandparents of these continental neighbours and comrades-in-arms, we probably wouldn't have a country for them to come to.

At the end, there is hope: Wojtek, who when he was de-mobbed lived out his life in Edinburgh Zoo, is a symbol of the friendship and long-standing links between Poland and Britain. Aileen Orr is campaigning for a memorial statue to Wojtek and (what I assume is) his beloved keeper, Peter Prendys.

This book has made me want to learn more about Poland and its history. It's also made me write what is probably my longest Goodreads review (and it could easily have been longer!), so it's a book that has clearly resonated with me. I think I need to upgrade my rating to 5 stars.

[Gerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading as I do on various wars and battles of interest to me and while keeping the larger event in front of me. I came across a story of the Polish Army Service Corps that fought during the Battle of Monte Cassino among many other battles during the Second World War. Specifically, the Battle of Monte Cassino and the Gustav Line in Italy are among my all-time favorites of the war in Europe in which to read, study, learn, and devour. It was during one of my past readings on this battle that I learned of a bear adopted by the 22nd Company of the Polish Army Service Corps to which I knew one day I would have to read. The purpose of wanting to read of Wojtek (Voy-check) was in my first impression to grasp a deeper understanding of the Polish Army - it was in fact those boys who broke the Gustav Line and lead the way to the success at Monte Cassino after General Mark Clark (aka Marcus Aurelius Clarkus) expended the U.S. Army 36th Division (Texas) in attempting to cross the Rapido - an accounting he would later have to face in a Congressional Investigation to which he was acquitted - but would never earn a 5th Star to his collar either - as a point of interest on Clark he was the signature on the Truce for the Korean War. But, this book was about a bear; adopted as a cub who served well with his Polish Comrades - and is by all accounts a hero by every measure of the word.

I thought I would learn about a bear and a battle in this book; what I came away with was a brief history known to us of the sadness of the great people of Poland. A people and a culture that were left behind not to earn their freedom until 1989 with the leadership and charisma of Lech Walesa. I also came away with a post WWII better understanding of the Scottish who adopted the boys of the Free Polish Army. The short 200 or so pages of this book are an introduction to a treasure trove of a depleted, betrayed, heroic, and wonderful people of the Polish. The Scots have a fascinating history as do the Welsh, the English, and the Irish.

The only matter I did not agree with in this book was in the epilogue of this book by another author Neal Ascherson - he stated that FDR and Churchill gladly let Uncle Joe Stalin do what he wanted with Poland but by all historical accounts - Sir Churchill fought this behind the scenes and FDR was nearing the end of his tired existence by the time the Yalta Conference took place.

My appreciation for Ms. Aileen Orr for her brilliant display and abilities with the "proper" English use gave this American a smile and a lesson on occasion. The simple pleasures are always the best and are priceless. This book and historical account is a gem and rightfully earned the five stars it deserves. NAZDROWIE! To Poland and "to your health!"

[Kirsti · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent look at a piece of history that may have been forgotten had this author, as well as others, not doggedly held on to it. I learned many things about the history of the times, and not just the Second World War. I find it fascinating as an Australian to read about other countries, because so much of our taught history focuses only on our own involvement. Many things about Poland and the history of the area are clearer now.

Of course there was Wojtek himself! He was obviously a mischievous bear, and the stories the soldiers told were funny and cute. I was sad to think of his final years at the zoo, and I hope he really did grow to accept it and find joy in the smaller things. The whole Peter thing though, bah if they made it into a movie there wouldn't be a dry eye in the house!

A great book, and definitely a favorite in terms of my true animal shelf. I don't think there's another bear story on there, so it's definitely unique in that way. Five stars!

[Rachel Tulloch]

I might be slightly biased as this book is written by my bestie's mum but I really enjoyed this one (and I don't usually read non-fiction).

This is an inspiring true story of Wojtek the bear and I personally found it quite emotional. Wojtek was adopted and raised by Polish soldiers. He lived with them, ate with them and even smoked and drank with them and as far as Wojtek was concerned, he was a soldier too. Reading about his connection with fellow soldier Peter was just heart-warming and the writing style really allows you to feel all the emotions associated with this bear's journey from the front line to the zoo... a very informative read but not full of jargon so made for an engaging read.

[Alice Bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely heartwarming and heartbreaking story of Wojtek! There was tears and smiles throughout but it was the epilogue that made me realise a lot about after the war and the treatment of the poles. My grandad from Poland was a spitfire pilot officer squadron 303 , survived two pow camps and fought for the freedom we all enjoy today and was living in North Berwick after the war, he met my granny who was in the women’s air force and was from Lambeth, England. He worked at the barnton hotel as a head waiter and wasn’t allowed to March in the peace marches ! I hate that part of history how British turned there backs of the polish people who had such an awful time in 1939 until 1989 (regained full sovereign of Poland ) and to think what these men and women gave up to come here and fight the war and the way they were treated is shocking, heartbreaking and sickening.
I love this book and want everyone to know about Wojtek and more so the plight of the polish soldiers and what they endured and lost.
It is a must read story of hope and despair and how to overcome the darkest days that life can throw at you. Gives insight into how history should never be repeated, but learn from these lessons.
I am so proud of my polish heritage and so pleased to have come across the story of WOJTEK the joyful warrior. It has enlightened me on a lot of polish history I had been unaware of.

[Ali Jon Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read about a wonderful bear. And I'll save you some time, its a quick read too if you are only interested in Wojtek, you only need chapters 2-5, a bare 40 pages.

What really sold this book to me was the stories of the polish people. In the UK our education on WW2 Europe focuses on the blitz and the Holocaust. If you take an interest you might find out about the terrible suffering the Germans and USSR inflicted on each other. What this book does is fill in the blank - what happened to the nation caught between these great belligerent powers. Its an important story that goes entirely overlooked in the UK

I'm not a crier when it comes to books. I cried once at the end of Anne Frank's Diary and never since. This book made me cry three times, and only once for the bear.

[Anna Farrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A random find on the "true stories" shelf in my local book charity shop that piqued my attention.

Wojtek's story was not one I knew, nor was the utter horror inflicted upon the Polish people both during and after the war. Thankfully, this book has enlightened me to both and so many more!

It is a great read and a fantastic reason for this book to be written. I visited Edinburgh last summer but didn't visit the gardens where Wojtek now resides - well done Aileen!- but I will be sure to make a special pilgrimage next time I visit!!

[Larry Gagnon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two books in one; the story of Wojtek, enjoyable, and an epilogue covering Polish history during the war, not what I expected. Again, Woiteks story is good and sad. The history of Poland is historical and also sad.

[Shane Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

The experiences of the Polish soldiers in World War II, fighting under British auspices, were almost wholly unknown to me before I read this book. I was hoping for amusing stories about a bear, and was surprised to read a detailed account of the struggles of the dispossessed men of the Polish army. They were relocated to Britain during and after the war and many resettled there after the war. Many of these soldiers were illiterate in Polish, and never learned exactly what happened to their families after they left Poland. Poland lost roughly a fifth of its pre-war population over the course of the war, so the soldiers had reason to worry about their families and friends back home. Those soldiers who chose to return to Poland were often branded traitors and many died under the Stalinist regime. Reading the story of how they were treated was heartbreaking. Of course I knew that Poland was treated awfully by the Nazis, and then by the Soviets, but I hadn't heard specific stories about it before.

Wojtek, meaning ‘happy warrior’, was purchased from a child in Iraq while the Polish army was moving through that nation. As the pet and mascot of an artillery unit he lifted the hearts of many men who had no realistic hopes for the future. He distracted them from their anxiety and "gave them a glimpse of the joy of an uncomplicated existence."

Here are my favorite anecdotes from this book.

He had lived all his life pretty much like a human being. Because of it, he confounded animal experts with his behaviour. My grandfather and other witnesses said you could walk up to Wojtek and look him straight in the eye – which in the ursine world would be interpreted as an aggressive challenge, eliciting a belligerent response. That simply didn’t happen with Wojtek. He was very comfortable making eye-to-eye contact and considered it non-threatening.

...

Wojtek often accompanied the men to the fields where they were working and was quite happy to carry fencing staves and logs for them, although it has to be said the bear was usually more interested in attempting to steal the contents of the men’s lunch tins. Nevertheless, it is proof of a sort that Wojtek was well used to carrying heavy loads for his friends. The simple dynamic at work was comradeship.

...

The bear would hold out a huge paw, asking for a cigarette and would usually be given one, which he ate with great gusto. Oddly enough, the cigarette always had to be lit. If it wasn’t he would throw it away. He only ate lit cigarettes. Perhaps there was an aroma of burning tobacco that he liked, or perhaps they had to be exactly the same as the cigarettes the men had in their mouths; no one has ever solved the mystery. He never appeared to burn himself as he chomped on them.

...

He was rationed to two bottles of beer a day when it was available. But on high days and holidays, when he talked his way into a bottle of wine, he occasionally got tipsy and would go about the camp, as they say in Scotland, ‘by the light of his eye’.

...

On many of their trips inland Wojtek preferred to sit alone in the cab [of the truck], awaiting the men’s return from whatever duties they were carrying out, just as he had done in the Middle East. Given the immense shortages of goods in both theatres of war, it was not surprising that petty theft was rife, indeed raised almost to a national art form, so Wojtek’s presence acted as a formidable deterrent. Nothing was ever stolen from Wojtek’s truck when he was in residence.

...

[Wojtek's] comrades were frantically unloading boxes of artillery shells for the Allied guns in the heat of battle. Wojtek joined them and with his paws outstretched, he indicated that he would help. Although he had never been trained to handle the unloading of 100-pound boxes of 25-pounder shells, shell fuses and other supplies, he simply observed what the men were doing and joined in, without any bidding. Standing upright, he held out his front paws into which men loaded the heavy boxes of shells. Effortlessly, he carried the munitions to their storage areas beside the artillery positions, and returned to the lorries to collect more. It was the company’s proud boast that he never dropped a single shell. However, it has to be said he did the lifting very much on his own terms: he chose when and how long he would work. At times he had to be wheedled into helping out. If he decided to stop and lie down for a bit, a titbit or two at either end of his supplies run could reinvigorate his war effort.

Some readers may suspect that Wojtek’s shell-carrying exploits have gained a little in the telling, but soldiers from other regiments witnessed the bear in action. In April 1944, in the build-up to the final battle, Black Watch veteran John Clarke and a friend, Vincent Franchetti, were foraging for food near the village of Acquafondata, some six miles from Monte Cassino. Their battalion had just been taken out of the front line and the men were making the most of the lull in the fighting. They had enjoyed a much-needed shower at the village and set off, as Clarke says, ‘on the scrounge’, into the heavily wooded countryside. Clarke testifies: ‘I remember it clearly because it was my twentieth birthday. We were making our way through the deserted fields, looking for stray hens and eggs, when a nearby artillery unit opened fire. We went to look and found a battery of Polish gunners setting up for a barrage. The gun site was hidden in a clearing within a large wood. As we watched, suddenly out of the wood came a large bear, walking on its hind legs. It seemed to be carrying something. Both Vincent and I shouted a warning to the gunners that a bear was going towards them, but nobody responded. ‘The bear went up to the trail legs of the artillery gun and placed a shell on the ground. The bear then went back into the wood and reappeared with another shell. By this time, we had realised that the bear was tame and most likely a circus bear. We just went on our way.’ There was to be an interesting postscript to Clarke’s memory of the encounter. After the war, when he told his wife the story, she refused to believe it, dismissing it as a tall tale he had invented. She would often persuade him to recount it to friends, still scoffing about its accuracy. However, the tables were turned when the couple were at a function attended by Polish veterans. Once more Clarke was persuaded to recite his tale. ‘Ah yes,’ said one of the Poles. ‘That would be Wojtek.’

...

At night, in camp, if Peter wasn’t around, Wojtek would often slip into his mates’ tents and bed down beside them; he’d been doing it since he was a cub and the men were quite used to it. He liked the companionship as well as the warmth of body contact.

Once, the bear strayed off his section into another unit’s camp and invaded the tent of a group of Indian soldiers who were greatly disconcerted at the appearance of a huge bear in their midst. Still in their nightclothes, the panic-stricken men grabbed their rifles and levelled them at Wojtek, ready to shoot him if he made any move towards them. Alerted by the commotion, the camp guards dashed to the scene. By good fortune they happened to be Polish and knew the bear, so they were able to defuse the situation without a tragedy occurring. But it had been a close-run thing.

...

There were plenty of furloughs and he had many opportunities to indulge his passion for water sports; he enjoyed many happy days swimming in the temperate waters of the Adriatic. As ever, his mischievous nature was given full rein. The beaches where he and the men bathed were shared with civilians. Wojtek’s favourite trick was to swim underwater towards a group of unsuspecting women bathers, then suddenly surface in their midst.

Their squeals of alarm as they found themselves in close proximity to a huge bear were music to his ears. To Wojtek it was a great joke and he never tired of it. Perhaps you could say he was the furry Jaws of his time, long before cinemagoers were scared witless by the creepy music that indicated the arrival of the giant shark. It was also an excellent way for the Polish soldiers to meet young women: Wojtek would ignore the men’s shouts for him to come back, preferring to romp around in the water near his victims, so the soldiers would have to swim out and fetch him. There is no record of whether this unusual dating technique ever brought about the desired results for the soldiers.

...

When the musicians started to play he used to bob up and down to the basic rhythm, then after a time he sat down to listen; it was a very odd sight, a giant bear sitting upright on his bottom on the dance floor, his legs splayed apart to keep his balance. Usually there were mounds of crumbs in between his legs, the remnants of the many treats he had managed to beg, but his eyes were fixed firmly on the band. He seemed transfixed by the music. That may very well have been a throwback to his early years, when in the wartime camps the men would provide their own musical entertainment to while away their evenings. Being familiar with music from a young age, he must have sensed from the men that this was a pleasant and enjoyable thing. Thus he eagerly placed himself in the dance halls at a spot where he could fully experience the performance, swaying in time to the beat. Under the violins’ influence he became very calm and settled; indeed, on one dance outing he managed a nap half under the hall chairs which were placed against the walls. He was not exactly a quiet sleeper, as his army colleagues would testify. While asleep, his grunts and snorts, with the occasional wind release from either end, made him a less than boon companion. Outings were not confined to country dances. Wojtek also attended local his impromptu additions to the performances were a great source of amusement to the locals, especially the children. But it would be safe to say that he was seldom invited back by the organisers of such events. Being upstaged by a farting bear was just too much for any performer, professional or amateur, to tolerate.

[Kirin171 · Rating 3 out of 5]

GROSS SOBBING

[MargeryK · Rating 3 out of 5]

We were in the gift shop at Edinburgh zoo. I saw this paperback and bought it as a gift for my dad who loves reading about World War 2. We caught the bus back to our digs and I started reading it, (as it turns out, pretty much anything is better than 'The Finkler Question' that I was part of the way through and that was my 'read-de-jour'). It was very readable, and the story, especially if you know nothing about it, is very interesting.

I then took a break from it and read a novel and finally returned to it this week to finish it off before seeing my dear Pap-par and handing it over.

The book is split into three sections. Firstly there is the story of Wojtek, secondly, a section that details the author's efforts to erect a statue in the bear's honour (I skimmed much of this), and thirdly, a rather lengthy but informative epilogue written by an historian, (name escapes me), that concerns the history of Poland, and in particular the fates of the Polish population during the second world war and how that mirrors Wojtek's life story. The part written by Aileen Orr is good enough, but she does repeat turns of phrase and nuggets of information, but I forgive her as it is clear she is an amateur enthusiast. I found the epilogue really interesting, and am glad it's there.

So - I learned a lot. That's about the nub of it. And I like learning. And I like stories about silly bears who think they are Polish. And I like Wojtek. And I like Aileen Orr's attempts at fostering a wee bit of world peace and cultural understanding. Perhaps I should have given this book four stars afterall.

[Tom Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

This true story about a bear is cute, inspiring and educational about the history of Poland, especially the history surrounding WWII and what that did to the country and its people. It's an almost too-good-to-be-true story about a bear cub adopted and raised by some Polish soldiers. The bear was tame but mischievous and of course had an endless appetite. Knowing nothing else this bear named Wojtek thought he was one of the guys and was taken everywhere the Polish soldiers fought in WWII. There are many humorous stories of Wojtek's antics. Multiple witnesses claim Wojtek joined the soldiers carrying artillery shells up to the guns on the front line. The story progresses through the rest of the bear's life following the war. The story bogs down a bit as the author took too many words to describe her personal crusade to recognize and honor Wojtek and then describe her own political ambitions to run for Parliament. It ends on a good note, however, with a detailed epilogue that describes what happened to Polish soldiers and citizens from WWII. It's a sad tale but one worth reading, as it reminds us as we see the current news from Europe that history can repeat itself.

[Jonathon Dyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The remarkable story of an army unit mascot - a Eurasian bear - who grew to think he was a soldier, was inducted as a private into the Free Polish Army, and went on to distinguish himself fighting alongside his artillery-company comrades in the pivotal Battle of Monte Casino in Italy, 1944 - a turning point in the road to allied victory in Europe. Wojtek (pronounced Voy-chek) went on to be demobbed in Scotland and spent his final years in Edinburgh Zoo.

The author Aileen Orr has rescued the story of Wojtek from obscurity; having seen Vojtek several times in her childhood, and hearing the stories of her grandfather visiting the Polish soldiers and their hirsute morale officer in their borderlands camp, Orr has dedicated considerable time and effort to raising a statue as tribute to both this remarkable bear and the extraordinary contribution of the Free Polish soldiers and pilots made to the allied war effort. An amazing tale (all the more so for being entirely true), told with humour and a lot of heart.

[Juliet Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 his keepers was Crafty Green Boyfriend's Dad!) Wojtek truly was a hero, he helped carry supplies, caught a spy and was a huge morale boost for the troops. He loved swimming, making friends, dancing at local dances in the Scottish Borders and eating. He drank beer and smoked cigarettes.

As well as telling Wojtek's story, the book outlines Polish history during the war and immediately afterwards, the terrible suffering of Poland during the war at the hands of both the Germans and the Russians. The book concludes by telling the story of the author's campaign to get the statue to Wojtek erected in Edinburgh.

[Lisa Rowles · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book very interesting albeit slightly sad as it not only told the story of Wojtek the bear in an unsentimental but not unfriendly way, it also recounted an otherwise unknown (to me at any rate) historical links between Poland and Scotland which were forged long before the Second World War. It explained the large presence of Polish refugees in parts of England long before the accession of Poland to the EU - and yes, it does discuss the Katyn massacre as part of the contextual historical background. Although Wojtek is the subject of the book, he has loaned his name to a bigger work than that overall which is quite an achievement for a relatively slim volume.

[derek allard · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not the best written book you'll ever read (and the last part is far too much about the author and her attempts to build a memorial, which I didn't find all that relevant to the wider story) but it does get across the story of Wojtek, which alone is worth the price of admission here.

[Anna Paluszkiewicz · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a fascinating story! Sad, but you will learn a lot about history of Britain, Poland and generally about WWII. (I hope my granddad met Wojtek somewhere on Monte Casino).

[Benjamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic story of one of World War 2s strangest war "heroes", Wojtek the Soldier Bear who lived with a Polish battalion and aided his comrades at Monte Casino.

[Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing quite frankly. The true story of a Syrian Brown Bear who became a war hero and symbol of home for thousands of Polish soldiers. If this doesn't become a film soon I shall be most annoyed!

[Lisioł Czyta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Niedźwiedź Lisioł
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Wyobrażacie sobie Lisioła jako niedźwiedzia? Lisioł też nie, ciężko byłoby wtedy zdobywać kobiece kolana, ale niedźwiedź Wojtek bez trudu zdobył kolana żołnierzy z 2. Korpusu Polskich Sił Zbrojnych formowanych w Palestynie. Historia to dość niezwykła.
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Zanim jednak poznamy historię Wojtka, musimy przebić się przez 40 stron dygresji autorki, która przyjęła konwencje pisania książki ze swojej perspektywy. Z tego też powodu na dzień dobry futrzak musiał zapoznać się ze źródłem fascynacji Aileen Orr na ten temat Wojtka, co dla niektórych czytelników może być niedźwiedzią przysługą. Dopiero po wstępie Lisioł mógł przenieść się do niegościnnej Palestyny, gdzie maszerował z żołnierzami polskimi, odczuwając silnie oddzielenie od naturalnego klimatu – gorącoooo. Wtedy właśnie znikąd pojawił się mały głodny chłopiec z tobołkiem na ramieniu. Tak zaczęła się historia niedźwiedziego żołnierza, którego Polacy kupili na fali współczucia i pokochali od pierwszego wejrzenia.
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Lisioł chętnie obserwował, jak mały niedźwiedź wdrapuje się na kolana, pije mleko z butelki po wódce, uprawia zapasy, a potem rośnie. Im większy był Wojtek, tym większym problemem się stawał *ignorowanie krzyków arabskiego szpiega, osaczonego pod prysznicem przez Wojtka*
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Z Bliskiego Wschodu, przez kraj piramid, aż po czerwone od maków stoki Monte Cassino, historia Wojtka jest interesująca i nieodzownie związana z jego opiekunami. Niedźwiedzie łapy przemierzyły całkiem spory szlak bojowy, dokonując rzeczy niesamowitych oraz psotnych – to w końcu niedźwiedź. Czytając, Lisioł był pod wrażeniem spokoju opiekuna Wojtka Piotra Prendysa, który umiał sobie poradzić z tak niecodziennym podkomendnym.
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Warto wspomnieć, że Wojsko Polskie miało więcej takich futrzastych podopiecznych, o których autorka wspomina w książce. Jak widać, II wojna światowa pociągnęła za sobą nie tylko ludzi, ale także zwierzęta.
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Jeśli interesuje Was historia Wojtka albo temat zwierząt na II wojnie światowej, to warto sięgnąć po tę książkę. Dywagacje autorki nie przypadły Lisiołowi do gustu, ale na to najlepiej przymknąć oko – tak jak żołnierze na wybryki Wojtka.

[Marc Pearce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, what an excellent story! It was cute, funny, sad, and action packed. There's a little something there to appeal to a variety of readers, old or young. It would make a great "family" viewing type of film, if there was a studio that would take up such a project. The subject was obviously close to the writer's heart, and that manifested into this written labor of love. Just a great narrative, painted with such illustrative word pictures, that I could really sense the tension of the battles described, or feel the sadness felt from the crying troops over having to send their bear away to his last home, after all that they had been through together.

There was also a great afterword, which detailed a good deal of the recent history of modern Poland, which was very much appreciated. Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone. I would have given it five stars, but I didn't much care for the chapter which detailed the author's efforts to establish a Wojtek monument, which ultimately has happened since the book was written. That last little bit just seemed dull, and like "filler" after such an exciting story about it's star, Wojtek. However, with that thought in mind, a new edition might be in order that does mention the final Wojtek monuments having been erected.

So give this one a read, and you can thank me later.

[Diane Lybbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

During WWII Polish soldiers 'adopted' a bear cub in the Middle East, and soon he became just one of the guys. Domesticated from an early age, he learned to follow the men and mimic what they would do. He even helped carry heavy ordinance to the cannons! When the men were going to be shipped out to Scotland, they arranged to have the bear (named Wojtek) given official military papers so he could board the ship with them and receive rations. The Poles continued fighting side-by-side with the Scots, when it became clear that Hitler had overrun Poland and their homeland had been destroyed. Wojtek was a popular figure in the towns, enjoying cigarettes (which he would eat - but only if they were lit!) and beer. At the end of the war, Wojtek was accepted by the Edinburgh Zoo and lived out the rest of his life there - lonely for his soldier friends and the military life. A true tale, Ms. Orr learned about Wojtek from her grandfather, who interacted with the Poles and Wojtek. She determined to commemorate this amazing animal by raising funds for a statue. The book in interesting, but Ms. Orr's writing style was more 'recorder' than 'storyteller'. But, I would recommend the book.

[Félix Tremblay · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the only book in my library I consider totally useless. I am sure that Wojtek was a cool bear, but the words "Polish war hero" are written on the cover, yet only one chapter was written about him on the battle field, so maybe 20 pages. Yet in the chapter before last, she talks briefly about another bear in the army, and she wrote like one line about that other bear actually doing real hero stuff. The author spends a lot of time talking about herself and the politics (in great, great details) of getting Wojtek his monument. The anecdotes in this book were related to her by an old man. I don't think her research went beyond that. I wish I had read another book about that bear, this one is misguided. The author had barely enough material to fill 50 pages, that's why she drags it on and on.

[Stephen Poltz · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first non-fiction in a long while. This is the true story of a bear who became a mascot for the Polish Army in Iran during World War II, carried ammunition while fighting in Italy, and became a symbol of freedom for the Polish servicemen transported to Scotland. It’s a heartwarming book about a ray of hope during brutal times. It’s written by a woman who actually saw Wojtek when he was in the Edinburgh Zoo. She was the granddaughter of a Scot who regularly visited Wojtek when he was still living with the Polish Army that was relocated to Scotland. It’s a terrific book, full of true anecdotes and perhaps some myth that grew up around Wojtek. I really enjoyed it. It was a nice break from all the fantasy I’ve been reading these past several months.

Come visit my blog for the full review…
https://itstartedwiththehugos.blogspo...

[Dane Howell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think it’s easy to be enamored by the thought of a silly bear following polish troops throughout war, participating in human activities like; Smoking cigs, drinking beer, taking showers and more.

Although I think my biggest take away from this read is how Wojtek represents a Poland/Scotland and the spirits of these countries and the men who represent them at war. Men, much like Wojtek, seperated from theirs homes and lifestyle the have always known, to permanently remain elsewhere.

This book represents a beautiful story of resilience, beauty in the mundane. Political pawns these shoulders have become, unable to return to their homelands. Forced to live elsewhere and assimilate into a culture new to themselves. All this being enough to wear a man down, but with Wojtek by their side, it’s all a little bit easier.

[sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

given to me by my brother to read. if i’m honest, i skimmed the last 15/20 pages & the entire epilogue. i looooved the story of wojtek 🐻🫶🏻 he was a funny little guy & i wanted to cry by the end of his story. the writing was quite repetitive (we already knew that he loved food/fruit/honey, was sensitive to peoples emotions, loved water & attracted girls… it didn’t need to be repeated 10 times every time one was mentioned) & his legacy/the statue story section of the book could’ve been cut down significantly. the epilogue would’ve interested me if i didn’t have to toil through the pages after wojtek’s death

[Anni Millar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aww, what a wonderful, heartfelt story. Of a bear cub Wojtek, who is bought by soldiers on a convey through Persia. A bear who ends up being a symbol of love and friendship. This story is so moving and stirs up emotion, those poor Polish people and these soldiers who lost everything, their loved ones, their homes, their country in the turmoil of war, but this bear kept their moral and spirits up. The strength of the human spirit really is amazing! Fantastic read, while being sad they are some great funny parts when Wojtek gets up to mischief! Read it! :)

[Eric Grounds · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the true story of an Afghan bear which served with Polish soldiers during WWII. It was more human than bear and volunteered to move ammunition during the battle of Monte Cassino. For a while it lived on the Scottish Borders while the Poles were housed in a DP camp near Berwick upon Tweed, but ultimately it spent the final years of its life in Edinburgh Zoo. I started reading it when I got on the train at Berwick and finished it before I got to Peterborough!

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

On paper this book sounded so awesome. A cigarette smoking, beer guzzling, wrestling bear conscripted into the Polish military. I'm not sure why I didn't care for it as much as I thought I would since the bear did do all that. I did think it was kind of odd that the Epilogue was nearly 1/3 of the book, but it did do a lot to explain some of the backstory and WW2 history that was skimmed over during the story.