The BEAR who SERVED in World War Two - Wojtek
Wojtek was a Syrian brown bear who became a famous mascot of the Polish II Corps during World War II. Wojtek was found as a cub in Iran in 1942 by Polish soldiers who had been evacuated from the Soviet Union. They adopted him, and he quickly became a part of the unit. As Wojtek grew, he developed a close relationship with the soldiers, who fed him milk from a bottle, and later on, a diet that included fruits, marmalade, honey, and beer. His integration into military life was so complete that he was officially enlisted in the army as a private to ensure he could accompany his unit on a British transport ship when they moved. Wojtek was given a paybook, a rank, and even his own serial number. He lived with the soldiers, slept in the tents, and was even taught to salute.