Kurt Meyer

Kurt Meyer (23 December 1910 – 23 December 1961) was a German military officer and SS commander during World War II. He served in the Waffen-SS and played a role in various battles and operations such as the Battle of France and Operation Barbarossa. Meyer is best known for commanding the 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend during the Allied invasion of Normandy. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords for his service. However, Meyer's legacy is marred by his involvement in war crimes, including the ordering of mass murder of civilians and prisoners of war. He was convicted for his role in the Ardenne Abbey massacre, but his death sentence was later commuted to life in prison. After his release, Meyer became involved with HIAG, a lobby group for former high-ranking Waffen-SS members.