I mean how did they select a nazi to be there up front. Apparently (hopefully) something went wrong in the selection and vetting process. And I got the life of me can't figure out how they ended up with a nazi being applauded.

Even if you might think for some deluded reason, this guy was not one of the bad guys.... he was part of an SS division. Everything stops after that right? There can be no saving grace for someone who was in the SS.