I am not sure on double rifles or the German market/industry, but, according to a couple of authors I've read both the French gun buying public and French gun makers seemed to move faster away from Damascus and towards fluid steel in the late 19th century than their counterparts in the US or UK.

I'll add that while my view is not definitive, I do tend to see far less damascus shotguns in France than I do in the US and I am always looking for SxS guys in shops.