It is true that the German states are more unique and autonomous, since after all, Germany was disunited for most of its history, fully of small duchies, counties, city-states, etc. However, that was the past, and although its echoes remain, it is not the same today. From what I know about German politics, the German states do not have as much autonomy as the US states do. The difference is very large.

It is true that the German nation, as you said, is basically a federation. However, Russia calls itself a federation as well, and it is actually. Despite what it claims, the oblasts have zero autonomy. Then again, we have quite a bit of republics in Russia, which are very much autonomous (mostly due to their volatility, but not always).