Two Doctors, One Gestapo Agent

The scene in the locker room where they move in on Gruber is well photographed. It has a classic noir atmosphere, and shows the director really knew how to use the camera to create a mood, and tell a story.

The trouble is, I can't believe the situation. Grant that they are desperate enough to try to kill Gruber and chance the subsequent investigation, how do they win out in this tactical situation? They are far enough away that he could shoot them both, and there is nothing to suggest he could not claim self defence to his superiors (who are not likely to care about a couple of Czechs more or less, anyway). Nothing is said to suggest it would be politic to spare them either.

By the time he tells them to stay where they are, they are halfway to him! Why would an experienced policeman not tell them to both stop and get on the floor? When the third man comes in, they are all primed to jump him - and it looks like he could easily have told the third man 'hands up!' , too, instead of letting him rush all that distance. Again, why doesn't Gruber shoot?

Does anyone else find all this implausible?