How A Brown Bear Fought The Nazis And Became A Legendary WW2 Hero | Italy 1944
May 1944. Monte Cassino, Italy. The mountains are burning. In the heat of one of World War II’s bloodiest battles, Polish artillery crews are running out of stamina. Suddenly, a 500-pound shadow moves through the smoke. It stands on two legs, picks up a 100-pound crate of ammunition, and walks toward the guns. It isn’t a man. It’s Private Wojtek—a Syrian brown bear who is officially enlisted in the Polish Army.
This is the absolutely true, almost unbelievable story of the Soldier Bear. We trace Wojtek’s journey from an orphaned cub found in Iran by starving Polish refugees (survivors of Stalin’s gulags) to his enlistment as a regular soldier to bypass British transport regulations.
Discover how a bear who drank beer, ate cigarettes, and wrestled soldiers became a symbol of hope for the Polish II Corps. From the deserts of the Middle East to the bloody slopes of Monte Cassino and finally to the Edinburgh Zoo, this documentary explores the unbreakable bond between a wild animal and the men who had lost everything but each other.
KEY MOMENTS COVERED:
• The Enlistment: Why the British Navy forced the Polish Army to give a bear a rank, serial number, and paybook.
• The Origin: How Anders’ Army traded a Swiss Army knife and canned beef for a cub in Iran.
• The Vices: Wojtek’s love for drinking beer and eating (yes, eating) lit cigarettes.
• The Battle of Monte Cassino: The true account of Wojtek carrying artillery shells under fire.
• The Legacy: The sad but touching post-war years in Scotland and the statues that honor him today.
• The Science: How cross-species imprinting made a wild predator believe he was a human soldier.
Is this the greatest animal story of WWII? Let us know in the comments.
👍 Like to honor the memory of the 22nd Artillery Supply Company.
🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications for more incredible true stories from history.
Share this video with someone who loves animals and history!