‘If I Sleep for an Hour, 30 People Will Die–History

‘If I Sleep for an Hour, 30 People Will Die

Adolfo Kaminsky was a Jewish member of the French Resistance during World War II. He joined the resistance movement at the age of 17 after the Germans invaded Paris, an event which saw Kaminsky's mother die due to the Germans. Before this, he lived an ordinary life and was interested in chemistry and colorants.


Kaminsky initially took notes on railway carts coming in and out of Paris and reported their materials and cargo to London. He was then sent to work in an underground laboratory. He used his knowledge of dyes and colorants to create fake documents so that Jews and other people vulnerable to extermination could fake their identities and escape certain death. Kaminsky and other individuals formed the Resistance cell called La Sixième and worked tirelessly throughout the entire war to create fake documents. It is estimated that the La Sixième group saved 14,000 lives.

In 1944, Kaminsky joined the French Army and was given the task of supplying French spies with fake passports so that they could get into Germany and Poland to expose concentration camps.

During his time in the laboratory, Kaminsky used to say the following quote:

"Keep awake. The longer possible. Struggle against sleep. The calculation is easy. In one hour, I make 30 false papers. If I sleep one hour, 30 people will die."

Kaminsky never asked for any financial gain for all his work. He sadly passed away on January 9th, 2023, in Paris at the age of 97.

An unsung hero.

Photographer: Aldolfo Kaminsky

Source: NY Times

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