have had no knowledge of the murders at the Abbaye. He later insisted, however, that he was aware of the bodies’ presence but had not seen them until two days after the killings. Disgusted, Meyer apparently ordered for the burial of the bodies and the admonishment, albeit unsuccessfully, of those responsible. These claims were refuted by French teenagers, however, who lived in the Abbaye and testified that no bodies were visible in the garden when they went there the day after the murders. Throughout the trial, Meyer maintained that he never commanded his troops not to take prisoners. Meyer was found guilty of inciting his troops to commit murder and of being responsible as a commander for the killings at the Abbaye; he was acquitted on the second and third charges. Sentenced to death on 28 December 1945, his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment on 14 January 1946. After serving nearly nine years in prison, Meyer was released on 7 September 1954. Memorial A memorial was unveiled in the garden of the Abbaye on 6 June 1984. After the names of those murdered, an inscription reads: See also France during World War II References External links The Lost Canadian Soldiers Of The Ardenne Abbey. Webpage about the memorial. Kurt Meyer on Trial: A Documentary Record. Kingston: CDA Press, 2007 Available as a PDF download with free registration. Crime in Normandy Massacres in France Operation Overlord War crimes in France World War II prisoner of war massacres by Nazi Germany Canada in World War II Canada–Germany relations Nova Scotia Highlanders North Nova Scotia Highlanders Sherbrooke Hussars Canada–France relations