A Closer Look
The Story Behind the Story
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Finding Wojtek was pure serendipity. Researching other books (Lifeboat 12, Alias Anna), I’ve spent many months reading about World War II. One memoir mentioned a most unusual soldier: “Private Wojtek, the only official four-legged member of Anders’ Army, is a bear.” I sat up thinking, “What? Can that be true?” A quick search on the Internet revealed photographs and news reports about this 500-pound Syrian brown bear who has become a beloved, legendary war hero across Europe. And yet most Americans have never heard of him. I wondered: How much of Wojtek’s legend is true? I knew right then that I wanted to write a nonfiction picture book about this fine, furry fellow.
Just one of many Wojtek memorials around the world. This one, sculpted by Alan Beattie Herriot, is in Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh, Scotland. Photo courtesy of Alan Herriot.
Baby Wojtek and his brothers in arms. The shortest soldier is Wojciech Narębski, the last surviving member of Wojtek’s troop. Photo courtesy of Donna Speers.
Wrestling buddies: Dymitr Szawlugo (left), Wojtek, and Henry Zacharewicz (right). Photo courtesy of Dymitr’s son Andy Szawlugo
Researching Brothers in Arms was tricky because Wojtek is so beloved that people want to believe even the most outrageous stories about him. I quickly learned a cardinal rule of writing nonfiction: don’t believe everything you hear. To find out more about the research behind this book, visit “My Favorite Research Story” on Melissa Stewart’s blog, “Celebrate Nonfiction: Exploring the Joy of Nonfiction Reading and Writing.”
To get to the truth about Wojtek, I got in touch with Wojciech Narębski, the last surviving member of Wojtek’s troop, and the son of Dymitr Szawlugo, one of Wojtek’s best friends. I also interviewed descendants of other soldiers who knew the bear. I’m so grateful to them for sharing letters, family memories, and photographs.