On German stereotyping: there was a poster advert in England (10 years ago ish) for... I forget what it was advertising (must have been a good advert?)... let's say for Hoffelbroth Lager, but it could equally well have been for VWs

"Knock, knock
Who's there?
Helmut.
Helmut who?
Helmut Schmidt.

We Germans may not have much sense of humour, but Hoffelbroth is the best lager in the world."