While traveling through Iran during World War II, a group of Polish soldiers encountered a
young boy with an intriguing possession available for trade: a bear cub. The soldiers
promptly bought the cub, named him Wojtek, and took him to join the rest of their unit.
The playful bear adapted well to military life. However, when the unit was sailing for
Italy, officials refused to allow the bear on the ship, saying that only soldiers
were permitted. The solution was both obvious and extraordinary: the soldiers arranged
for Wojtek to be officially enlisted in the army. As an enlisted soldier, he could accompany
the men on their mission. "He didn't receive money," recalled one former soldier in an
interview with the BBC World Service, "but was officially a Polish soldier." Wojtek
remained with the company throughout the war and even helped carry heavy crates of
ammunition to soldiers on the battlefield.
It indicates why letting the bear on the ship would be dangerous.
It identifies the problem the soldiers faced in attempting to keep the bear.
It resolves the conflict between the soldiers and the officials.
