"Bernas" was founded on 15 September 1946 as Harian Umum Nasional by Soemanang Soerjowinoto. Its original editorial board consisted of Soemanang, Mashoed Hardjokoesoemo, Bob Maemun, Marbangoen, Mohammad Soepadi, Darsyaf Rahman, and RM Soetio. At the time, Yogyakarta was the temporary capital of the newly independent country. During the entirety of the Indonesian National Revolution, the paper consisted of only two or four pages, printed on whatever paper was available at the time. After the war, "Bernas" continued to publish.