Scotland conceded the first of four goals to Germany inside the first minute as they fell to a third successive Nations League defeat and remain bottom of Group A1.
With 57 seconds on the clock at Tannadice, Elisa Senss smashed a thunderous strike into the roof of the net, leaving stretching goalkeeper Lee Gibson without a chance.
Though they were dealt the worst imaginable start, Michael McArdle's side responded well and dominated much of the first half before suffering a second sucker-punch.
Immediately after Hibernian forward Eilidh Adams squandered a superb headed chance, the visitors roared forward through Jule Brand and the winger's cross was turned into her own net by Sophie Howard, Scotland's Germany-born defender.
The Scots have been taught many a tough lesson over the past few campaigns and this was another.
The top seeds and third-ranked side in the world showed their superiority in the second half and boosted their goal difference further.
Half-time substitute Cora Zicai caressed a beauty by Gibson before Lea Schuller latched on to a launched ball, unmarked, to leather in a fourth.
Lauren Davidson was denied a late consolation when her close-range shot was brilliantly touched on to the crossbar by Ann-Katrin Berger.
The sides meet again in Wolfsburg on Tuesday - live on BBC Scotland - where Scotland will need to be much improved to return home with a positive result.