Apparel with a story
The Brave Bear Who Fought for Freedom
T-shirts carrying Wojtek, the bear Polish soldiers took in as a cub in Iran and who went with them all the way to Monte Cassino. We wear his mark because the story really happened.
- Ships from PolandBy courier across Poland and the EU
- 14-day returnsNo reason needed. Send the T-shirt back and we refund you.
- Free delivery from €81.40on every order, EU included
From the warehouse
Ready to ship
Two prints
Pick your Wojtek
Gallery
See how history is worn
Corporal Wojtek — history with a furry twist
Catalogue
All products
Corporal Wojtek Beanie, Grey
Beanies
€20.00in stock
Corporal Wojtek Beanie, Mint Green
Beanies
€20.00in stock
Corporal Wojtek Beanie, Navy
Beanies
€20.00in stock
Corporal Wojtek Hoodie, Cool Blue
Hoodies
€74.50in stock
Corporal Wojtek Hoodie, Dark Green
Hoodies
€74.50in stock
Corporal Wojtek Hoodie, Heather Grey
Hoodies
€74.50in stock
Black
T-shirts
€29.50in stock
Corporal Wojtek T-Shirt, Bright Blue
T-shirts
€29.50in stock
Where we come from
Not every hero wears a uniform. Some wear fur.
Corporal Wojtek comes from one true story. An orphaned bear cub, taken in by Polish soldiers in Iran, travelled with them across the Middle East and on to Italy. So that he could sail with the unit, he was entered on the army roll as a private. In time he made corporal, and that rank gave us our name.
We make plain T-shirts with a single mark so the story keeps travelling. When someone asks you about the bear, you will know what to say.
- The mark
- An engraving of the bear’s head, large on the back and small on the chest.
- Weight
- 185 gsm, no side seams, twin-needle shoulder seams, lycra-reinforced neck rib.
- Sizes
- S to XXL, every measurement in centimetres.
Brand history
Corporal Wojtek’s trail
- 1942Iran. Polish soldiers take in an orphaned bear cub and name him Wojtek.
- 1943Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Egypt. Wojtek eats with the men of the 22nd Artillery Supply Company, sleeps beside them and moves on with them.
- 1944Monte Cassino. To sail with the company to Italy he is entered on the roll as a private. According to the men who served with him, he helped carry ammunition crates at Monte Cassino. Corporal came later.
- 1946Scotland. In September the company lands at Glasgow with Wojtek and moves to a camp in Berwickshire.
- 1947Edinburgh. When the company is demobilised, Wojtek goes to live at Edinburgh Zoo.
- 1963Edinburgh. Wojtek dies at the zoo. His old comrades visit him to the end, and they said he came closer whenever he heard Polish spoken.
- TodayHis statue, walking beside a soldier of the Polish Armed Forces, stands in Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh. We wear his mark.
A gift
A gift with a story behind it
Plenty of people first heard about Wojtek from a grandparent. A T-shirt with his mark is a present that comes with something to talk about. Not sure of the size? Check the measurements, and if it does not fit you have 14 days to send it back.
How you buy
From basket to parcel
- You pick colour and sizeNo account needed, you give your address with the order.
- You payBy card.
- We packOrders paid by 12:00 on a business day are usually dispatched the same day, and the rest go out on the next business day.
- We shipWe will email you when your parcel ships.
Before you order
A few things worth knowing
Which size should I pick?
Go by the measurements. Lay a T-shirt that fits you well flat, measure it across the chest from seam to seam just below the arms, and compare it with our table. Sizes run from S to XXL.
What is the difference between Classic and Night Eye?
It is the same engraving of the bear. Classic shows it as it appears in our mark, with dark eyes. Night Eye is its negative: pale eyes and a pale outline of nose and mouth. Weight, seams and sizes are the same.
What does delivery cost?
Within Poland €4.30. To EU countries €12. From €81.40 delivery is on us, whichever of these countries it goes to. Every parcel travels by courier from our warehouse in Poland. Orders paid by 12:00 on a business day are usually dispatched the same day, and the rest go out on the next business day. Sales to the UK will open separately, at corporalwojtek.uk.
What if I get the size wrong?
You have 14 days from delivery to send it back, no reason needed. If you want a different size, return this one and order the new one straight away. That is the quickest way.
How do I wash it so the print lasts?
As the print inside the neck says: 40°C, inside out, no bleach, no tumble dryer. Iron inside out on a medium setting.
Is the Wojtek story real?
It is. Wojtek was a bear taken in by Polish soldiers in Iran. He crossed the Middle East with them, was entered on the army roll as a private and later made corporal. According to the men who served with him, he helped carry ammunition crates at Monte Cassino. He spent his last years at Edinburgh Zoo.
Question not here? Drop us a line. hello@corporalwojtek.com