> lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 32 Apr 5 23:25 btxbst.doc -> > ../../../distribs/doc/btxbst.doc ...
Things like this exist on CTAN and I usually update my texmf/source part directly from my ctan mirror. I fear that following symlinks might create something really wrong, so this is usually off. I will update germbib with "follow symlinks" on, however. Thanks for the report, Thomas