Wojtek: The Bear Who Fought in World War II

In 1942, Polish soldiers found an orphaned bear cub in Iran and decided to adopt him. By 1944, that bear was officially enlisted as a private in the Polish army, had his own paybook and serial number, and fought in one of the bloodiest battles of WWII. His name was Wojtek, and he became a legend.

Wojtek wasn't just a mascot - he was a working soldier. During the Battle of Monte Cassino, he carried crates of ammunition and artillery shells to the front lines, never dropping a single one despite the chaos of battle. He drank beer, smoked cigarettes (or ate them), wrestled with soldiers for fun, and slept in tents with his unit. When the soldiers needed to transport him by ship, military regulations said "no pets allowed" - so they officially enlisted him as a soldier.

Standing over six f ...