Stanisław Pigoń, a renowned literature historian, once described Krzysztof Kamil Baczyński as “the diamond with which we shoot at the enemy.” Baczyński, a prominent poet, became a poignant symbol of the so-called “Generation of Columbuses” (Polish: Pokolenie Kolumbów). His life was tragically cut short on August 4, 1944, during the Warsaw Uprising.
Baczyński was born on January 22, 1921, in Warsaw, into the first generation of independent Poland. His mother, Stefania née Zieleńczyk, was a teacher from an assimilated Jewish family, and his father, Stefan Baczyński, was a notable literary critic of the interwar period. The marriage between his parents was fraught with difficulties, eventually leading to their separation. Despite this, Baczyński maintained a profound bond with his mother, a relationship that remained significant throughout his life.
From Aspiring Artist to Underground Scholar
Baczyński’s literary journey began during his school years at the Stefan Batory Gymnasium in Warsaw. Although he was an average student, with mostly “three” grades on his report cards, he excelled in drawing and initially planned to pursue a career in the fine arts. The outbreak of World War II altered his path.
From the fall of 1942 to the summer of 1943, Baczyński clandestinely studied Polish literature at the underground University of Warsaw, as Poland was under German occupation. In June 1942, he married Barbara Drapczyńska, a fellow student involved in underground Polish studies. Their marriage was notably harmonious and supportive.
Baczyński’s Legacy: A Poet and Patriot Lost in the Warsaw Uprising
During the occupation, Baczyński published five volumes of poetry and graduated from the secret Reserve Officer Cadet School “Agricola,” participating in several resistance sabotage missions. His contributions to Polish literature and the resistance movement were significant, but his life was tragically short-lived.
On August 4, 1944, around 4 p.m., Baczyński was killed at Blanka’s Palace during the Warsaw Uprising. His wife, Barbara, succumbed to her injuries on September 1. Both are buried in the Military Cemetery in Warsaw’s Powązki Cemetery, a testament to their enduring legacy.
Eighty years after his death, Baczyński’s poetic voice continues to resonate, capturing the spirit and sacrifice of a generation marked by the horrors of war.