The anode characteristics of n‐ and p‐type germanium are different. A large voltage barrier is observed at about 0.8 ma/cm2 current density at room temperature on n‐type but not on p‐type electrodes. The voltage barrier on 3 ohm‐cm n‐type germanium anodes breaks down at about 9 volts in many electrolytes. During anodic dissolution the germanium surface appears to be covered with about a monolayer of oxide or hydroxide. This suggests that germanium goes into solution as a complex ion with the hydroxyl or oxide radicals attached. A mechanism is proposed for the over‐all anode dissolution process involving two holes and two electrons for each germanium atom dissolving.