--- title: "The story of Wojtek: The 440-pound bear that drank, smoked, and carried weapons for the Polish army during World War II" date: "2018-04-02" modified: "2020-10-21" authors: - name: "Team Mighty" job_title: "Author" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/teammighty/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/the-story-of-wojtek-the-440-pound-bear-that-drank-smoked-and-carried-weapons-for-the-polish-army-during-world-war-ii/" categories: - "History" - "War History" - "World War II" --- # The story of Wojtek: The 440-pound bear that drank, smoked, and carried weapons for the Polish army during World War II ![]() During World War II, the 22nd Artillery Supply Company of the 2nd Polish Corps had an unusual soldier among its ranks, a 440-pound Syrianbear named Wojtek. --- Wojtek first came to the company as a cub, but over the course of the war he matured and was given the rank of corporal in the Polish army. Here's Wojtek's amazing story below. ### After being released from a Siberian labor camp during the Nazi invasion of Russia in 1942, the 22nd Polish Supply Company began a long trek south toward Persia. Along the way, they bought an orphaned bear. ![]() *Photo: imgur coveredinksauce* ### "He was like a child, like a small dog. He was given milk from a bottle, like a baby. So therefore he felt that these soldiers are nearly his parents, and therefore he trusted in us and was very friendly," Wojciech Narebski, former Polish soldier, told the BBC. ![]() *Photo: imgur coveredinksauce* ### As he grew, his diet changed, but he remained friendly. ![]() *Photo: Wikimedia Commons/The New York Public Library* ### The bear became fond of drinking beer, as well as smoking, and even eating cigarettes. "For him one bottle was nothing, he was weighing 440 pounds. He didn't get drunk," Narebski said. ![]() *Photo: imgur coveredinksauce* ### The bear became a major morale boost to the troops. ![]() *Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Imperial War Museum* ### The company was fond of boxing and wrestling with Wojtek, as seen in this footage. [via GIPHY]() ### While he was still small enough, Wojtek would hang out of the passenger side of trucks, until he eventually grew so large he had to be transported in the back of cargo vehicles. ![]() *Photo: imgur coveredinksauce* ### By 1943, the Polish company had reached Egypt and was preparing to reenter the war zone in Italy. The army had strict rules denying pets passage to war zones, so the company did the only thing they could — they made Wojtek an official soldier. ![]() *Photo: imgur coveredinksauce* ### Because of his fearsome size and strength, Wojtek carried crates of munitions much easier than his human comrades. He inspired the emblem for his company. ![]() *Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Imperial War Museum* ### After the war, Wojtek spent his days in the Edinburgh zoo, where he was a beloved attraction. Wojtek died in 1963. ![]() *Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Skabiczewski* ### More from Business Insider: - [Dozens of ISIS defectors explained why they left the terror army]() - [The 19 most game-changing weapons of the 21st century]() - [Every surface ship in the Chinese navy, in one chart]() - [These 3 charts show just how enormous the US Air Force really is]() - [The ISIS 'caliphate' is not the driver but the wild card of Europes's refugee crisis]() This article originally appeared at [Business Insider Defense](). Copyright 2015. Follow BI Defense on [Twitter](). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-b5G4QUOzs ## Author Team Mighty's experience encompasses intel, special ops, military history, tactical expertise, aviation, gear, and weapons. Authors on Team Mighty include veterans, spouses, and active and reserve service members from every branch of the military, as well as former CIA employees.