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The Abbey

The Abbey was built in the 12^th century.
It is a gothic building located in Saint- Germain- Blache- Herbe it is in the western part of Caen, France.
It has towers that are a great place to overlook the northern part of Caen and the sea.

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The beginning…

On June 7, 1944, Kurt Meyer (leader of the German 25^th Panzer Grenadier regiment of the 12^th SS) moved his HQ to the abbey, largely because of the view.
That same day Meyer had seen our Canadian troops pushing forward toward the Abbey.
Meyer decided to launch a counter-attack on said Canadian soldiers.
During the fight 84 Canadian soldiers were killed along with 7 civilians.
20 Canadian Soldiers were taken prisoner by the Germans and taken to the Abbey.

The 12^th SS Panzer Division (Hitlerjugend)

The Hitlerjugend was an armored division during WW2. Made up of young enlisted men, who came from the Hitler Youth.
The 12^th SS committed many war crimes during their time. They committed murder against soldiers and civilians, and even rape in some cases, also arson was very common for the SS. Mostly recorded in the cities of Plomion, Tavaux, Bouillon etc.
Their division first started off with 20,540 men. After the Battle of Normandy, the division was left with 12,000 men…

20 men.

Out of the 20 men who were taken prisoner by the SS eleven of those men were executed immediately and they were buried in the abbey’s gardens… Five of those men belonged to the North Nova Scotia Highlanders, the other six belonged to the 27^th Canadian Armored Regiment.
On the 8^th of June 1944, Seven additional prisoners of war from the North Nova Highlanders were forcibly taken to the Abbey and ruthlessly interrogated by the SS.
After the regiment wouldn’t answer any of their questions, they executed these men one by one starting with the oldest all the way to the youngest. Before killing them, they gave them a chance to answer the questions but none of them ever did because either way they were dead.

Private Ivan Crowe

Private Ivan Crowe was born November 17^th, 1921 in New Glasgow Nova Scotia.
He grew up farming and lumbering for 6 years then, laborer and he also did a bit of construction for 3 years. He also could do minor repairs on cars.
He attended 7 years of school and then left to work. His best and favorite subject was History.
He enjoyed reading, hunting, fishing and playing cards in his spare time.
He was one of the Five Nova Scotia Highlanders murdered at the Abbey.
He was only 22.

Private Charles Doucette

Private Charles Doucette was born July 15^th, 1912 in Sydney Nova Scotia.
He was the son of Mary and Peter Doucette of Nova Scotia. Husband of Mary Jane Doucette of Sydney, Nova Scotia.
He was one of the Five Nova Scotia Highlanders men who were murdered at the Abbey.
He was only 31.

Corporal Joseph MacIntyre

Corporal Joseph MacIntyre was born February 29^th, 1916 in Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia.
He was the son of Daniel and Florence MacIntyre of Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia.
Joseph was MIA (Missing In Action) since June until he confirmed to be KIA (Killed In Action) later on.
He was one of the Five Nova Scotia Highlander's men murdered at the Abbey.
He was only 28.

Private Reginald Keeping

Private Reginald Kepping was born on September 9^th 1922 in New Waterford, Cape Breton county, Nova Scotia.
He was the son of Wilson and Maud Keeping of Nova Scotia.
He was one of the Five Nova Scotia Highlanders murdered at the Abbey.
He was only 21.

Private James Moss

The Trial of Kurt Meyer…

After the war (1945) general Kurt Meyer was to be charged for murder of multiple unarmed Canadian prisoners of war.
He had ordered his soldiers to murder them, they shot them all in the back of the head. On by one.
After his trial he was to be shot but his wife and lawyer wanted him to file for clemency. He won.. Instead, he was sentenced to life in prison.
Meyer started his sentence in April of 1946, then he was moved to a German prison and unfortunately later he was released on September 7^th 1954 by the Canadian Government.

No Closure.

After Meyers release it would feel as though the men he murdered, and their families had just lost their closure, and their sons all over again.
No one was rotting in prison for murdering their boys and no one was being held accountable.
No closure…