He was born in the village of Zaleszany to Franciszek Mączka, who as a teenager fought in the January Uprising in 1863.

In 1913 he became a member of Riflemen's Association, and in August 1914 has been already a soldier of the Polish Legions in the 2nd Squadron of Uhlans, led by Zbigniew Dunin-Wasowicz.

On 28 February disguised as a railway worker he escaped from the camp and on 20 March became a soldier of Polish II Corps in Russia of General Józef Haller.

Mączka however escaped and started to work in the Polish Military Organization, in the section active in Ukraine.

In 1917 he published poetry collection Starym szlakiem (On the Old Path), which was republished thrice during the interwar period.