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WOJTEK
The Soldier Bear

On 18 May 1944 the first Allied soldiers who reached the ruins of Monte Cassino were Polish soldiers of the 1st squadron, 12 Podolski Lancers Regiment.

With them was Wojtek, the Soldier Bear.

From "One Photo One Story: Wojtek the Soldier Bear": In 1942, Polish citizens accompanying Anders’ Army met a boy carrying a barely alive little orphaned brown bear. The Poles decided to buy him for a handful of Persian coins, some chocolate, a Swiss knife and a tin of beef. Right away, they gave him a common Polish name – Wojtek. Given his future military career, this choice turned out to be somewhat prescient – it translates as 'Smiling Warrior'.

Books about Wojtek: 

• Wojtek the Bear: Polish War Hero by Aileen Orr,
• Wojtek: War Hero Bear by Jenny Robertson
• Once A Hero: The Story of Private Wojtek by James A. Cutchin
• Wojtek: The Bear Who Went to War by B.Moulder, Moy McCrory
• Soldier Bear by Goeffrey Morgan and W. A. Lasocki

There are also numerous youtube videos on the topic.

Please contact Kasia at (608) 836-8632 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
so a chair is saved for you

VISIT THE PHC BOOK PAGE
for the books discussed in previous meetings