Cultural differences in punitiveness have been investigated with regard to individualism versus collectivism (Hamilton & Sanders, 1992). The present study expands this line of research by addressing two questions: (1) Are there cultural differences in moral indignation towards criminal deeds, punitiveness, preferences for specific sanctioning forms (punitive, restorative cf. Gromet & Darley, 2006), and endorsement of specific sanctioning goals (retribution, deterrence, cf. Carlsmith, 2006) between the USA and Germany? (2) Can these cultural differences be explained by dispositional differences in self-construal style (independent versus interdependent, cf. Gollwitzer & Bücklein, 2007)? Two criminal cases were presented to N = 204 participants from the US and Germany. Dependent variables and self-construal styles were assessed via self-reports, endorsement of specific sanctioning goals was assessed via a behavioral process-tracing task. Taken together, the findings show that Germans reacted more outraged and more punitive towards the cases than US-Americans. Self-construal mediated this effect. US-Americans more frequently endorsed retributive sanctioning goals and punitive sanctioning forms. These effects, however, were not related to self-construal. Implications, limitations, and consequences for cross-cultural research on punitiveness are discussed.