Wojtek (1942-1963) was a Syrian brown bear cub found in Iran and adopted by the soldiers of the 22nd Artillery Supply Company of the Polish II Corps, who helped the men move ammunition during the Battle of Monte Cassino. As the bear was less than a year old, he initially had problems swallowing and was fed with condensed milk from an emptied vodka bottle. The bear was fed with fruits, marmalade, honey and syrup, and was often rewarded with beer, which became his favorite drink. He also enjoyed smoking and eating cigarettes.
