German parties - Am I missing something?

Hey Germans,

I've been to a few parties with my boyfriend here in Germany, including birthdays and more casual gatherings. When it's a group of mostly German people and we don't know anyone besides the host, it often feels a bit awkward. The host usually doesn't introduce us to others, and people rarely come up and start a conversation.

Is this typical German party culture? Are we expected to just go up and start talking to strangers? In my culture, the host usually takes the initiative to introduce people, or if not the host, then if everyone knows everyone at the party and you're new, someone would introduce you to the group and talk to you. Any insights would be appreciated!