Kamiński and the Biuletyn — 5 November
, 36, was a Polish journalist and educator — founder of the Polish scouting movement "Wilki" (Wolves), author of textbooks on education. Before the war, he had been editor-in-chief of several educational reviews. After the fall of Warsaw (28 September 1939), he immediately joined Tokarzewski's .
His assigned mission: to create the first Polish clandestine newspaper. Doctrine: factual information (no crude propaganda), comprehensive coverage (BBC, Radio Berlin, Radio Moscow monitored in secret), distribution through a network of cells of 5 to 7 militants.
On 5 November 1939 came the first issue of the Biuletyn Informacyjny ("Information Bulletin") — 4 duplicated pages, print run of 90 copies (by hand, still without a clandestine press), distributed in Warsaw. Contents: news from the European front (Poland militarily wiped from the map, but the war continued elsewhere), summaries of the BBC bulletins, anonymous political analysis pieces.
Kamiński had to decide on a strategy for growth.
How should Kamiński prioritise the Biuletyn's growth?
Kamiński applied B. The Biuletyn Informacyjny gradually became the most important newspaper of the Polish underground state. Evolution: - November 1939: 90 copies, duplicated - May 1940: 4,200 copies, first clandestine presses - 1942: 22,000 copies weekly - 1944: 47,000 copies, the absolute reference paper of the
Cumulative print run over 5 years: ~2.1 million copies. It became the unofficial organ of the AK. Kamiński wrote there under the pseudonym "Kamyk" (Little Stone). During the Warsaw Uprising (1 August - 2 October 1944), the Biuletyn appeared daily — distributed from AK positions. Last issue: 4 October 1944. Kamiński survived the uprising, was taken prisoner, and released in 1945. Marginalised by the postwar Polish communists. He continued his pedagogical work, publishing Kamienie na szaniec ("Stones for the Rampart", 1943, written underground) — one of the most widely read Polish books of the 20th century, translated into 30 languages. Died in 1978. The Biuletyn Informacyjny remains the emblem of European clandestine press: a paper that survived 5 years under Nazi occupation, never dismantled by the Gestapo.
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