W O J T E K

The bear that went to war

BOOKLIST

Please note that some of the information in the books listed below may not be historically accurate.

The comic, listed first on this page, and available in Polish, English, Italian, and French language versions online, was produced with the support and guidance of Professor Wojciech Narębski, who is the last surviving member of the 22nd Artillery Supply Company, living in Poland, and who therefore witnessed Wojtek's story. This publication can be considered a reliable source of information.

You may also like to read this page for details of Wojtek's story as confirmed by some of the men who served with him.

Publications for young readers can be easily identified by this symbol:

COMIC/KOMIKS

The following publication, produced in comic format, was part of an eTwinning project conducted by the Complex of Textile-Trade Schools, in Żagań, Poland under the supervision of Wioletta Sosnowska and in ITCG Luigi Paolini in Imola, in Italy under the supervision of Angela Riccomi. Wojciech Narębski, who witnessed Wojtek's story as a member of the 22nd Artillery Supply Company acted as a consultant on this Project.

POLISH VERSION (Published 17 October 2010)

Jak niedźwiedź Wojtek Został Żołnierzem
(Prawdziwa Historia Niedzwiedzia,
Żołnierza 2 Korpusu Polskiego)

ENGLISH VERSION (Published 27 February 2011)

How Wojtek, a bear, became a soldier

(The true story of the soldier-bear of the 2nd Polish Corp)

FRENCH VERSION (Published 8 March 2011)

Comment l'ours Wojtek est devenu soldat
(La véritable histoire de l’ours –

soldat du 2čme Corps Polonais)

https://issuu.com/violina/docs/comment_l_ours_wojtek_est_devenu_soldat.

ITALIAN VERSION (Published 9 March 2011)
Come l'orso Wojtek e divenato soldato
(La vera storia dell’orso –
soldato del 2° Corpo d’Armata Polacco)

CASTALDI, Lello and WIŚNIEWSKA, Dorota

Wojtek

Comic in Italian, Polish and Ukrainian languages.

Available for purchase by emailing lellocastaldi@gmail.com

BOOKS IN ENGLISH

Look for these books at your local library, good bookstores, and online booksellers such as Amazon and AbeBooks.

CUTCHIN, James

Once a Hero: The Story of Private Wojtek Bear WWII Soldier

Outskirts Press, 18 September 2015

ISBN10: 1478762888 ISBN13: 9781478762881

DUMAN TAK, Bibi

Soldier Bear

Eerdmans Books for young readers: Translation Edition. 2 February 2011

ISBN: 10: 0802853757 ISBN 13: 9780802853752

NOTES: This book for children is an English translation of the book
written by Bibi Dumon Tak in Dutch under the title of Soldaat Wojtek.

FILABER, Wojciech

The Shepherds of Monte Cassino

Matador, 28 October 2021

ISBN: 9781800464940

NOTES: Children's book available through author’s website.

Fictional story about a team of brave animals lead by Wojtek travelling

to Monte Cassino to fight the enemy.

FILABER, Wojciech

War Bear: Fearless War Hero

Matador, 28 March 2021

ISBN: 9781800461017

NOTES: Children's book available through author’s website.

FILABER, Wojciech

Wojtek Four-Footed War Hero

Wydawnictwo Psychoskok, 2022

ISBN: 9788381199209

NOTES: A story written for young children, from Wojtek's point of view.

Available through author’s website.

HICKS, Peter

Beyond the Call of Duty: Animal Bravery in Wartime

Wayland, 8 January 2015

ISBN10: 0750284153. ISBN13: 9780750284158

NOTES: Book written for young readers.

HIÇYILMAZ Gaye / CAMPLING, Annie

And the Stars Were Gold

Hard Back Edition: Orion Children’s Books,1997

ISBN 10: 1858814804 ISBN 13: 9781858814803

Paperback Edition: Dolphin Paperbacks, 2000

ISBN 10: 1858814812 ISBN 13: 9781858814810

NOTES: Written for young readers. Gaye Hiçyilmaz is an English

writer who has also published under the name, Annie Campling.

HOOD, Susan

BROTHERS IN ARMS: A True World War II Story of Wojtek the Bear

and the Soldiers Who Loved Him

Harper Collins - to be published on 4 October 2022

NOTES: The true story of Wojtek told for young readers.

IVELL, Krystyna and BACZOR, Vi

Wojtek album: collection of Wojtek photographs and anecdotes

Krystyna Ivell, 2013

ISBN 10: 0992632706 ISBN 13: 97-0992632700

NOTES: View Imperial War Museum record here.

MIKULA-DEEGAN, Krystyna

Private Wojtek Soldier Bear

Matador, 29 July 2011

ISBN10: 9781780880037 ISBN13: 978170880037

NOTES: Fictional account based on Wojtek’s story, including historical information.

MORGAN, Geoffrey and LASOCKI, Wiesław,

Soldier Bear

Hard Back Edition: Collins Distribution Service, 1970

ISBN10: 0002117932 ISBN13: 9780002117937

Paperback Edition: Armada Lions. ASIN B0013PW400

MORGAN, Geoffrey and LASOCKI, Wiesław

(editors G. Angielini and D. Kuławiak),

Wojtek Soldier Bear – La Straordinaria Storia di Wojtek

– Conil 2nd Corpo Polacco in Italia

Angelini Photo Editore, 1 April 2010

ISBN 10: 888793049X ISBN13: 9788887930498

NOTES: Multilingual edition (Italian and English)

MOULDER, Bob and McCRORY, Moy

Wojtek: The Bear Who Went to War

Markosia, August 2021

ISBN 10: 1913802906 ISBN 13: 9781913802905

NOTES: Book written for children

ORR, Aileen

Wojtek the Bear: Polish War Hero

Birlinn Ltd. New Edition, 5 June 2014.

ISBN 10: 1843410656 ISBN 13: 9781843410652

Kindle Edition ASIN B006WB2 FN6, 21 June 2012

Dark Cover paperback, ASIN: BO12HU7VDE, 5 June 2014

PAULIN, Garry

Voytek the Soldier Bear: Niedźwiedź Żołnierz o imieniu Wojtek

Garry Paulin, 1 February 2008

ISBN 10: 0955829-50X ISBN 13: 9780955829505

NOTES: Book written for children in Polish and English

POLLOCK, Alan

Wojtek: The Bear Who Went to War

Old Barn Books

Hard Back Edition, 2 May 2019

ISBN 10: 1910646415 ISBN 13: 978191064640

Paperback Edition, 5 September 2019

ISBN 10: 1910646520 ISBN 13: 97819106462526

NOTES: Listen to this children’s book read by the author here

ROBERTSON, Jenny

Wojtek: War Hero Bear

Birlinn Ltd. New Edition 1 May 2014.

ISBN 10: 1780272278 ISBN 13: 9781780272276.

Kindle Edition ASIN: Book 4JT6WW

NOTES: Written for young readers 8 to 12 years

BOOKS IN POLISH

Look for these books at Polish libraries and bookstores.

Some may also be available through Amazon and Polish online booksellers.

FILABER, Wojciech

Niedźwiedź Wojny: Nieustraszony Bohater

Wydawnictwo Psychoskok, 24 March 2021

ISBN 10‏:‎ 8381198097 ISBN 13: 9788381198097

NOTES: This is the Polish language version of Wojciech Filaber’s children's

book, War Bear: Fearless War Hero and is available through the author’s website.

FILABER, Wojciech

Wojtek, Czworonożny Bohater Wojny

Wydawnictwo Psychoskok, 2022

NOTES: This is the Polish language version of Wojciech Filaber’s

Wojtek Four-Footed War Hero, his book for young children, written from

the point of view of Wojtek, and is available through the author’s website.

LASOCKI, Wiesław

Wojtek spod Monte Cassino

Gryf Publications,1968

ISBN 10: 0901342009 ISBN 13: 9780901342003

NOTES: This Polish language book was written for children.

MIKLASZEWSKA, Maryna

Wojtek z Armii Andersa

Fronda, 2016

ISBN: 9788377859971

NOTES: Available fromlubimyczytac.plwhich offers a choice of stores for E books.

The site will translate into English.

NIEDZIELA-STROBEL, Anna,

Przygody Misia Wojtka, Dzielnego Żołnierza

Fundacja Niepodległości, 2015

ISBN: 9788393930142

NOTES: Children's book written in the Polish language

ORR, Aileen

Niedźwiedź Wojtek. Niezwykły Żołnierz Armii Andersa

Replika, 2017

ISBN 9788376741000

NOTES: This book is the Polish translation of Aileen Orr’s

Wojtek the Bear: Polish War Hero.

PAULIN, Garry

Voytek the Soldier Bear: Niedźwiedź Żołnierz o imieniu Wojtek

Garry Paulin, 1 February 2008
ISBN 10: 0955829-50X ISBN 13: 9780955829505

NOTES: Book written for children in Polish and English

PIOTROWSKA, Eliza

Wojtek. Żołnierz bez munduru

Kś. Wojciecha, 2017

ISBN: 9788380650398

NOTES: Polish children's book.

PRZYMANOWSKI, Janusz

Kanonier Wojciech

Wydawnictwo Poznańskie, 1979

ISBN 8321000851

NOTES: Children's book written in Polish

WIERZBICKI, Łukasz

Dziadek i Niedźwiadek - Historia Prawdziwa

Pointa!, 2012

ISBN: 9788392499138

NOTES: Book written for children in Polish

BOOKS IN ITALIAN

CASTALDI, Lello

WOJTEK e la 22a compagnia Rifornimento d'Artiglieria polacco a Venafro

Self published.

Available for purchase from author by emailing lellocastaldi@gmail.com

MORGAN, Geoffrey and LASOCKI, Wiesław
(editors G. Angielini and D. Kuławiak),
Wojtek Soldier Bear – La Straordinaria Storia di Wojtek
– Conil 2nd Corpo Polacco in Italia

Angelini Photo Editore, 1 April 2010
ISBN 10: 888793049X ISBN13: 9788887930498

NOTES: Multilingual edition (Italian and English)

Back to Wojtek intro

Wojtek Songs

Films and videos about Wojtek

Wojtek Memorials

Wojtek Stories - True or False?

click on image to enlarge

NOTES: This book in the Italian language provides detail of Wojtek and the 22nd Artillery Supply Company's time in Venafro during the Battle of Monte Cassino. The author also wrote the book to fill information gaps that he feels have led to a lack of recognition of the contribution of the Polish army to the liberation of Italy.

His notes in Italian follow: "Nel corso degli anni, la presenza del Corpo polacco a Venafro, è entrato in una letteratura più vasta e ricca di testimonianze umane, sociali e culturali: che li rivede oggi gioire insieme e che li vide soffrire tanti anni fa. C'è anche un'altra ragione che è alla base di questa raccolta e della sua sistemazione in un unico testo è: colmare i vuoti d'informazione di una certa storiografia, specie straniera, che troppo spesso in questo dopo guerra ha ignorato il contributo polacco alla compagnia di liberazione."

click on image to enlarge