He was born in Kamionka near Ropczyce in a peasant family to Wincenty Mach and Apolonia née Białek. He attended a school in Kamionka, and then continued education in Ropczyce, from 1928 in a private school - Miejskie Staroklasyczne Koedukacyjne Gimnazjum in Ropczyce. He debuted with a poem "Jesień" (Autumn) printed in a school press "Przyszłość" (Future, issue from 1 September 1928) and a novella "Dawne zapusty" published in a timely "Rola". He continued his education from 1932 at the Władysław Jagiełło Gimnazjum in Dębica, where he edited the school magazine "U nas". He graduated from secondary school diploma in 1936. In 1938 he graduated from the State Pedagogium in Krakow. After completing a one-year military service in September 1939, he graduated from the Infantry Cadet School. He fought during the invasion of Poland in the 6th Infantry Division of the Kraków Army. He took part in the battles of Pszczyna and Tomaszów Lubelski. During the occupation, he lived with his sister Bronisława in the Księżomost part of Sędziszów Małopolski, and then from 1941 in Kraków, where he worked at the Social Insurance Institution (Ubezpieczalnia Społeczna). In Krakow, he was active in the underground, teaching high school students in underground classes. In 1945, he began studies at the Faculty of Humanities (Polish studies) of the Jagiellonian University, which he graduated on 1 December 1947.