It's a stereotype, similar to Scotts are stingy, French good lovers, etc.
If you look at funny classics, such as i.e. Loriot, the humor is often around language, which is near impossible to translate. Hence English language comedies with lots of wordgames also do not translate well into German (Seinfeld flopped in Germany). Mr. Bean was such a great worldwide success because he doesn't talk, so so translation issues.
I never hear about that sorry, and I live in Germany, just hear Germans are a cold persons and the English and Scotts have black humor or refined. I love their sense of humor. What I prefer them 100% than kind of persons than exemple Brazilians.
No I do not think so.
Is that so? I've rather heard that German people are honest. Maybe for that, this streotype is made.