I'm going to go out on a limb here and advocate for a group that I know will stir-up some hornets nests but can't go without being mentioned; the Waffen-SS.

The Waffen-SS proved to be the most capable arm of the Nazi Party, being superior to traditional Wehrmacht units and was noted for their intense fury, unwavering courage, and ferocious nature in combat. So effective were the Waffen that less than a third of the units incorporating the Waffen were awarded over 90% of all Iron Crosses during World War 2.

They were present at every decisive engagement in Europe from the Battle of Stalingrad to the Battle of the Bulge, proving themselves time and again with distinction. When the Allies ran into Waffen units, they knew they were in for a knock-down, drag-out fight, the tenacity of the Waffen being well known to their enemies and inescapable from their name.

They also incorporated a time-honored tradition that runs through Germany's vast military history; making their soldiers look damn pretty with their slick uniforms and iconic German stahlhelm.

They weren't just an infantry centered unit either, they had various Panzer divisions that were incorporated throughout the war into the unit, the most famed and battle tested being the 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich.

The Waffen-SS deserves a spot as one of the coolest and most combat capable units in military history. They fought with the utmost belief in what they were fighting for and did so to the bitter end all while displaying loyalty, duty, and courage throughout the war.

Also, the Waffen also incorporated troops from all over the world from India to Latvia, regardless of race, making one of the most fanatic Nazi units racially diverse contrary to Nazi doctrine. Skill means more than skin when it comes to war.

The Waffen were not all the cold-blooded murderers that many portray them to be; they had a fierce creed and loyalty to the Nazi Party, but they were in no way primarily responsible for the atrocities committed by the SS. That blame rests with the SS-Totenkopfverbände, Allgemeine SS, and the Einsatzgruppen. The Waffen-SS was the military arm of the Nazi Party, and while they did indeed commit a fair number of horrendous atrocities, it is unfair to categorize the whole unit as murderers and criminals.

In case anyone disregards this, I would suggest reading Black Edelweiss: A Memoir of Combat and Conscience by a Soldier of the Waffen-SS by Johann Voss. It tells the story of his teenage service in the SS-Mountain Infantry Regiment 11 Reinhard Heydrich during the war.