The DAX opened 0.7% lower at 24,824 points on Friday, unable to escape the downward pressure from steep losses in Tokyo and Seoul.
The German benchmark's decline was compounded by a significant drop in Zalando shares, which acted as a major drag on the index.
7% lower at 24,803 points, erasing modest gains from Thursday's session.
The MDAX of mid-cap stocks also retreated, reflecting broad-based weakness across the board.
The sell-off in European equities follows a turbulent week for global markets.
The DAX closed the previous week 0.7% lower at 24,803 points, erasing modest gains from Thursday's session.
The decline was largely driven by the steep drop in Zalando shares, which weighed heavily on the broader index.