Germans have a reputation which is based primarily on the history of Prussian aggression and expansionism.
Prussia is technically based in the area of Brandenburg - in and around Berlin. Other German areas were never expansionist - say the Rheinland or Bavaria, for example.
In the 19th century when Germanics were exiting the old country, most of them were not from the old historic Prussian area, but from those areas annexed following the 1815 Treaty of Vienna following the defeat of Napoleon.
Bismarck united Bavaria and some other holdouts into the Second German Reich in about 1870-71. Before that Bavaria was its own independent kingdom. Part of the exodus from Germany in the 19th century was trying to get away from Prussian influence and more freedom of thought and religion. The “Prussians” hated Catholics and imprisoned many priests; they did not like the independence of thought of the Jewish population, and they tried to outlaw the old Lutheran faith which still followed Martin Luther’s standards and replace it with a more modern version. This led to an exodus of Lutheran people as well.
As for Bavaria, I like to compare it to Texas. They never forget that they are Bavarians; have their own proud history, and like to have fun. Germans are as nearly as diverse as Americans and should not all be considered as ‘Prussian-like”.
great points