1. Physical and chemical properties

1886 – Germanium is isolated from argyrodite by Clemens Winkler.

1940-1945 – Use of germanium in radar installations (Sn-Ge diodes).

1946 – First processes for recovering germanium from zinc metallurgy.

1948 – Use of germanium in diodes (electronics, television, computers, telephony, special optical lenses, etc.).

1956 – New germanium purification techniques, production of single crystals, huge need for semiconductors.

1965 – Use of germanium oxide as a catalyst in the polymerization of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) in Japan.

1970 – Silicon replaces germanium in microelectronics.