This reminds me that I got fired from a German company (operating in DK) because I asked too many questions and would not stop complaining about the software architecture which was terrible.
The company culture was clashing with the Danish culture that I was used to and also I didn't give a fuck.
if it makes you feel better, this is also my experience as an se in germany, (althought i didn't get fired). I am greeted with complete annoyance and sometimes even perpexlity when pointing out rather obvious flaws in software systems. Almost as if the mentality of "this is how we have always done it" has implanted itself even in here. However I have had the rare ocurrence where these did lead to solutions.
Small companies are usually flat, but my experience is that larger companies turn into departments/teams until someone realizes that more leadership on paper doesn't add any value.
The company culture was clashing with the Danish culture that I was used to and also I didn't give a fuck.