SS Panzer commander dies

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Former SS Panzer commander turned Highland publican dies aged 82 - The Daily Record

A FORMER SS Panzer commander who became a popular Highland pub landlord has died at the age of 82.

Werner Busse, who served on the Russian Front in World War II, later became friends with many British soldiers who frequented his bars.

Born in Halberstadt, central Germany, he volunteered for the Waffen - "Armed SS" - aged 16 and joined the 10th SS Panzer Division Frundsberg.

In 1944, his tank was destroyed by an anti-tank rocket in a post D-Day battle in Caen, Normandy. The 18-year-old was thrown clear and suffered only minor shrapnel wounds. Captured by the Allies, he was sent to various POW camps in the UK.

But because of food shortages, he was shipped out with other German prisoners to America.

While there, he worked on former President Jimmy Carter's peanut farm in Georgia.

Werner was sent to Scotland in 1946 and was interned at Craigellachie, on Speyside, before going on to do farm work near Keith.

He met his future wife Molly - the daughter of decorated World War I Gordon Highlanders veteran George Stables - at a barn dance.

They wed in Brechin and had two daughters. Molly and Werner, who was a keen boxer and footballer, then ran a hotel in Montrose.

They moved to Inverness and ran The Plough at Eastgate, before taking over The Imperial Bar, which became The Moray. Both retired in 1990.

Molly said: "Werner always said he was enormously in debt to the people of Scotland because they treated him so well. He wanted to thank them all for their kindness."

He died last Thursday while on holiday in California. His funeral is expected later this week.