Article by:
Beth Mckibben
Reeves named the pop-up after a World War II Polish folk hero, a Syrian brown bear called Wojtek, who was orphaned as a cub and found by the 22nd Artillery Supply Company while stationed in the Soviet Union. The unit adopted Wojtek as its mascot and traveled with the soldiers throughout Italy and the Middle East. Wojtek became an important member of the outfit, keeping spirits lifted with his antics and penchant for snacking. He even acquired a taste for cigarettes and achieved the rank of corporal, eventually helping to carry shells to trucks along the battle lines. Following the war, soldiers from the 22nd Artillery continued to visit Wojtek at the Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland, where he remained until his death in 1963.Read More
Google