As absolute as Hitler's control over the Nazi war machine was, it depended on the ability, judgment, and unquestioning loyalty of the senior officers charged with implementing his ideas. These 14 soldiers, all of different rank, from varied backgrounds, and highly awarded, exemplify German military prowess at its most dangerous. A top military historian examines their achievements. Among his subjects: Panzer commander Warner Kempf and Kurt Mayer, commander of the Hitler Youth Division.