The greatest advantage that Germany had was that it was located next to the Rhine River, which was complicated for the Allied Forces to cross, and Germany was close to developing/ unstable countries.
Well my biology lessons told me that we used to be hominids but I am not hundred percent sure its right.
The reason why states had to resort to acts of legislation such as referendums, recalls, and initiatives to reform local and state government is because much of the political process was corrupt, and this was the only way to change the status quo quickly, without having to wait for another election cycle.