For some reason, _fear_ seems to be an important emotion in Germany that steers the collective.
Fear of the boss to be caught with a error on his (hence he adds more bureaucracy), fear of the general public to look racist (hence low policing in high crime area with many foreigners), fear of the case worker to get sued (hence applying the rules literally, to the detriment of the applicant),.etc
Pretty much. I feel like the whole fear drive German conformism comes from the Prussian times where strict hierarchies were enforced and respected, where your superior is always right so don't question it, and the same top-down leadership culture can be seen today in big traditional German corporations.
Fear of the boss to be caught with a error on his (hence he adds more bureaucracy), fear of the general public to look racist (hence low policing in high crime area with many foreigners), fear of the case worker to get sued (hence applying the rules literally, to the detriment of the applicant),.etc