What character traits make Colonel Lanser a sympathetic character in the story, The Moon Is Down?

Lanser is presented as a sympathetic, good man who is in a challenging and difficult position. While he must obey his leader, most likely, Hitler, he stretches those limits as widely as possible in accommodating his prisoners of war. He sends a polite message to the Mayor of the town, requesting an audience with him. He does not punish an errant maid who throws boiling water on some of his soldiers. He asks permission to stay in the Mayor's Palace. Only when the Mayor seems to be leaning to a negative response, does Lanser indicate that he must stay there per his leader's orders.