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To quote the book (Foreword):
The soldier, who received both decorations (Knight Cross and Close Combat Clasp
in gold) is a member of an absolute elite. These decorations document, on the
one hand, a singualr, supreme act of bravery - one that was decisive at the
local level for an engagement or even a battle - and the other, for the
demonstration of constant, uninterrupted bravery, in some cases over month and
years.
Regarding the Knight Cross (again from the book):
In contrast to the British Victoria Cross, the MoH, and Heroe of the Soviet
Union, a candidate for the Knight Cross had to have proven his bravery
repeatedly before the ennemy. Singular feats of arms or battlefield performance
were not normally considered. Thus, for instance, an otherwise "ordinary"
infantryman who had suddenly destroyed seven tanks during a single day of front
line combat service, could reckon with the award of the Iron Cross First class.
Both Iron Cross were prescribed for the later award of the knight cross.
The word "best" is not the best one to describe these 98 soldiers (out of 19
millions who fought for the Axis). In no way reducing what Soldiers from other nation did (or do), the condition in which the Germany found himself in WW2 (multiples front, overwhelm in manpower and material, long conflict, etc) makes these individuals really stick out IMO.
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