Is it irresponsible to overtake a truck and trailer a short distance before a crossroads?

Your answer is correct because overtaking a truck and trailer just before a crossroads is considered irresponsible for two main reasons under German traffic rules. First, large vehicles like trucks with trailers can block important traffic signs, so you might miss crucial information needed to navigate the intersection safely. Second, they can obscure your view of crossing traffic, which increases the risk of accidents since you cannot clearly see vehicles coming from other directions. Therefore, it's safer to avoid overtaking in such situations to maintain good visibility and reaction time.