| My picks would be as follows:
Best Strategic Commander - Erich von Manstein for 'Sichelschnitt', aka the Manstein Plan, the masterstroke that humbled France. It has to be remembered that this would not have been possible without the influence of the man below. Manstein also achieved a great victory in 1943 with the recapture of Kharkov. Hitler should have listened to this man instead of the likes of Halder but sadly for Germany he didn't. Manstein was a defensive master but it's a pity he wasn't more forceful with Hitler. For example, he accepted Operation Citadel (Kursk) all too easily when his own plan was far more daring and in keeping with strengths of the German Army.
Best Army Commander - Heinz Wilhelm Guderian for the decisive role his XIX Corps played in the Battle of France and for the pivotal roles his 2nd Panzergruppe (later 2nd Panzer Army) played in Russia. Both Hoth and Hausser are fine alternative picks but it has to be remembered that both these commanders took much of their ideas and inspiration from Guderian. Hauser at least served under Guderian in the opening months of Barbarossa. Rommel too could not have achieved his tactical successes in Africa without what Guderian was able to do, that is, form a completely new arm of the German Army against significant opposition from his peers. All of Germany's great victories in WWII were as a direct result of the infuence and energy of this one man. Also an acomplished strategist as his futile attempts to save Germany from ruin when he was Chief of the German General Staff demonstrated.
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"An Emperor is subject to no-one but God and justice."
Frederick 1, Barbarossa
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