Humans and bears - Wild encounters

[Pckts]

Meet Private Voytek, the Nazi fighting bear soldier (16 Photos & Video)image: [url]http://0.gravatar.com/avatar/67403a19b8ff2589cad1002324aaad88?s=50&d=http%3A%2F%2F0.gravatar.com%2Favatar%2Fad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536%3Fs%3D50&r=X[/url]

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BY BEN 2 HOURS AGO IN: ANIMALS, AWESOME, OH SHIT image: http://sumome-140a.kxcdn.com/static/211e...ite-60.png

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 1image: https://thechive.files.wordpress.com/201...=600&h=400

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Wojtek (Voytek) was a bear cub found in Iran in 1942 and adopted by soldiers of the 22nd Artillery Supply Company of the Polish II Corps.2image: https://thechive.files.wordpress.com/201...=600&h=695

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Soldiers fed him with condensed milk from an emptied vodka bottle. The bear was subsequently fed with fruit, marmalade, honey and syrup, and often rewarded with beer, which became his favorite drink. He also enjoyed smoking and eating cigarettes.3image: https://thechive.files.wordpress.com/201...=600&h=330

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Over the long journey from Iran to Palestine, the bear quickly became the unofficial mascot of the 22nd company. The bear would sit around the campfire with the men, eating, drinking, and sleeping in the tents with the rest of the soldiers.4image: https://thechive.files.wordpress.com/201...=600&h=428

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He enjoyed wrestling (obviously, no one stood any type of chance) and was taught to salute when greeted.5image: https://thechive.files.wordpress.com/201...=600&h=355

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When the motorized convoy was on the move, Voytek sat in the passenger seat of one of the jeeps, hanging his head out of the window and shocking people walking on the streets.6image: https://thechive.files.wordpress.com/201...=600&h=337

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The problem, however, was that British High Command did not allow any pets or animals in their camp, so the Polish Army formally enlisted Voytek into their ranks.7image: https://thechive.files.wordpress.com/201...=600&h=399

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He was given the rank of Private, assigned a serial number, and from that point on was included in all official unit rosters.The soldiers of the 22nd loved having him around…8image: https://thechive.files.wordpress.com/201...=600&h=432

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The Poles’ Finest Hour of the war came in the battle for Monte Cassino. The campaign was proving to be on of the bloodiest battles of the Western Front, and the Poles were brought in to make the final push to capture the fortress. The Germans were deeply entrenched in the hilltop monastery, and three previous Allied assaults on the position had all been unsuccessful.12image: https://thechive.files.wordpress.com/201...=600&h=408

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During the fighting, Voytek actually hand carried boxes of ammunition (on his hind legs), some weighing in at over 100 pounds, from supply trucks to artillery positions on the front lines.Voytek worked tirelessly, day and night, bringing supplies to his friends who were bravely battling the Nazis. He never rested, never dropped an artillery shell and never showed any fear despite his position being under constant fire and heavy shelling.13image: https://thechive.files.wordpress.com/201...=600&h=507

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His actions were so inspiring to his fellow soldiers that after the battle the official insignia of the 22nd Artillery was changed to a picture of Voytek carrying an armful of howitzer ammunition.14image: https://thechive.files.wordpress.com/201...=600&h=768

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Voytek lived out the rest of his days in the Edinburgh Zoo. He always perked up when he heard the Polish language spoken by zoo guests, and during his life there he was always being visited by his old friends from the Polish Army – they would sneak beers to him, and some would jump into the bear enclosure and wrestle with him for old time’s sake.15image: https://thechive.files.wordpress.com/201...=600&h=918

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He passed away in 1963, at the age of 22.16image: https://thechive.files.wordpress.com/201...=600&h=401

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Voytek was a hero of World War II, and there are statues of him and plaques memorializing his brave service in Poland, Edinburgh, the Imperial War Museum in London, and the Canadian War Museum.Check out a quick documentary about Voytek RIGHT HERE.
Read more at http://thechive.com/2015/05/19/meet-priv...Oj27qdF.99 Reply