By Louis Meulstee

Polish Armia Krajowa series

No. 11 Burza.
Cover and layout: Louis Meulstee.
Cover illustration: Burza transmitter 1944.

The cover artwork and layout of this series was prepared with DTP Serif PagePlus X8,
using Arial, AvantGarde, Helvetica, Times New Roman and Poppl-Laudatio fonts.
Scanned illustrations and photos were enhanced and prepared with Adobe Photoshop
Elements. The finished publication was directly converted into PDF format.

- First published 2024 as WftW Supplement No. 300, Version 1.00, as a free to download
print ready publication.
- This unchanged edition was adapted for Scribd™ with the addition of a front cover
and colophon.

© Louis Meulstee PA0PCR

Ottersum
The Netherlands
info@wftw.nl
http://www.wftw.nl

About this publication.

Selected publications, previously featured on the Wireless for the Warrior website, have
now been added to Scribd™ to reach a broader audience.
The WftW 'Polish' series comprises three groups of publications. These start with a
detailed technical view of wireless communications in the Polish army during the inter-war
years until 1939. Next, it covers 'Wireless in the Armia Krajowa and the Warsaw Uprising'
(THIS series), and concludes with the development and production of radios for resistance
groups, Polish AK, SOE, and agents during WWII by the Polish in exile in Great Britain.
It should be noted that in the Armia Krajowa series, only locally produced radios are
covered.
Already published on Scribd™ are selected chapters from the WftW 'Pamphlets', WftW
'Amendments', and WftW 'Various' series, with more to follow as time permits.

The 'Polish' Series.

The WftW 'Polish' series is not directly related, but within the scope of the WftW website
and interest. It can be freely copied and distributed, but only in their current form,
preferably with mention of the website www.wftw.nl.
Note that the page layout of the WftW series was setup with mirrored pages, primarily
intended for double sided (colour) printing and, if available, on good quality class A paper.

June 2024
Wireless for the Warrior - Polish Armia Krajowa series
Replica of the ‘Burza’ (Thunderstorm) transmitter (right),
modulator unit (left), and original microphone (centre), built
in 2005, currently on display in the Warsaw Uprising Museum.
DATA SUMMARY
Design/Maker: Wlodzmierz Markowski
Year of Introduction: August 1944.
Purpose: Secret broadcast transmitter used during the
Warsaw Uprising in 1944.
Frequency: 52.1M (5.758MHz).
Circuit features: Crystal oscillator, RF Power amplifier,
external anode/screen-grid amplitude modulator.
Power: About 30W (Initially 18W).
Valves: 6V6, EL12 Sp. (2x); Modulator 6J7, 6SN7, 6L6 (2x).
Aerial: Windom.
Power Supply: AC mains.
References:
- Document: Replika Powstańczej Radiostacji ‘Burza’, Replica
Uprising radio station ‘Thunderstorm’, Wlodzimierzem
Markowski, Warsaw, 2005.
- History of radio station ‘Thunderstorm’, Adam Nogaj, SP5EPP.
- Documents and additional information courtesy Bogdan
Szkudlarek, SP3LD, Poland.
- Zolnierze Lacznosej Warszawy (Communications soldiers of
fighting Warsaw), Kazimierz Malinowski, Warszawa, 1983,
isbn 83-211-0378-2.
Original 1944 sketch of the transmitter circuit diagram
drawn by Wlodzimierzem Markowski.
© This WftW chapter may be freely copied and distributed, but only in the current form.
Page 1 of 3. ver 1.00. June 2024.
No. 11 Burza - 1
Burza
‘Thunderstorm’
(Armia Krajowa #11)
Country of origin:
Poland
REMARKS
In 1943, during the planning of the Warsaw Uprising of August 1944,
it was decided to construct a shortwave broadcast transmitter for
providing news and developments to the Polish, but also messages
and pleas for assistance to the Allies. This transmitter, named
‘Blyskawica’ (Lightning, see Chapter 299), was transported to War-
saw at the end of July 1944. On the day before the outbreak of the
Warsaw Uprising, the transmitter was lost during transport. It was
eventually recovered on the 2nd of August, unfortunately badly dam-
aged by rain. As no alternative transmitter was available, Wlodzimi-
erzem Markowski, who estimated that it would take a week or more
to restore the ruined ‘Blyskawica’, undertook building a makeshift
transmitter. Work on this transmitter, named ‘Burza’ (Thunderstorm),
started that afternoon in the premises of the Warsaw Main Post Office
building. It was completed on the late evening of the next day, the 3rd
of August. Operating on 52.1M, it used a 30m long Windom aerial
slung on two existing masts on the roof of the Post Office building.
The first Burza broadcasts started shortly after the final tests and
alignment of the transmitter with Armia Krajowa bulletins, messages
relating to the current situation of the city, and requests for foreign aid
to fighting Warsaw. This continued until the 8th of August when the
more powerful ‘Blyskawica’ transmitter eventually was repaired. The
British Home Office confirmed later that ‘Burza’ was received in
London, and after the war Vladimir Markowski heard that his messag-
es were received in New York.
After the start of more professional broadcasts by the ‘Blyskawica’
(operating on 32.8M) editorial team, the ‘Burza’ transmitter was used
to retransmit its programs on 52.1M, but still maintained broadcasting
at other times. At the 28th of August the Main Post Office buildings
were again target of heavy German artillery fire which eventually
destroyed most of the building including ‘Burza’.
Warsaw Main Post Office ruins after the Uprising.
Wireless for the Warrior - Polish Armia Krajowa series No. 11 Burza - 2

Circuit diagram of the replica Burza (Thunderstorm) broadcast transmitter.

(The frequency of the original Burza, 52.1M meter = 5.760MHz, slightly outside the 49M
broadcast band, was not taken arbitrarily, but that of the only crystal which was available).

Circuit diagram of the replica Burza (Thunderstorm) modulator unit.

Poster attached to walls of

buildings in Warsaw calling
for listening to radio broad-
casts of the Blyskawica
transmitter operating on
32.8M, relayed by Burza
transmitter on 52.1M (right).
Translation of poster text:
Listen to the radio broadcast of
fighting Warsaw!
On medium wave 224 or 251M. On
short wave on 31.8M station
Circuit diagram of the replica Burza Lightning, and on 52.1M station
(Thunderstorm) mains power unit. Thunderstorm.

© This WftW chapter may be freely copied and distributed, but only in the current form.

Page 2 of 3. ver 1.00. June 2024.

Wireless for the Warrior - Polish Armia Krajowa series No. 11 Burza - 3

Front panel view of the Burza replica (above). Similar

to the destroyed 1944 original, it was built on a wooden
baseboard with a Pertinax front panel, using as much
as possible period components.
The maker of the Burza replica was Zygmont Seliga,
SP5AYY, who also took the photographs.

Top view of the Burza replica transmitter

showing in detail the RF output stage with the
two parallel connected EL12-Special valves,
tank coil, tuning capacitor and aerial tap
switch (above).

Top view of the Burza transmitter

at an exhibition (above).

Listening to radio broadcasts during

the Warsaw Uprising fighting (above).

(2005) Wlodzimierzem Markowski, SP3WM,

who build the original Thunderstorm trans-
mitter in August 1944, behind a replica made
in 2005 (left).

© This WftW chapter may be freely copied and distributed, but only in the current form.

Page 3 of 3. ver 1.00. June 2024.